Self-service: NCR Launches ATMs for Mobile Reloads in Africa and in the Middle East
- NCR is currently implanting new automatons to enable the purchase of SIM cards as well as mobile toping-up in Africa and in the Middle East. The initiative mostly targets unbanked populations. The kiosks accept cash and card payments (debit and credit); they have been crafted to be implanted in very busy locations (airports, train stations, commercial centres, etc.).
- NCR has dedicated sales teams focusing on the needs of underbanked customers in emerging markets. Studies have been conducted with the help of Middle Eastern cardholders to help building up this project. These solutions could later on be proposed in Brazil, in India or in China.
- This launch reasserts the interest of time-saving self-service kiosks. Also, considering the development of mobile solutions in emerging countries, where people often resort to these tools to send funds and where they manage their banking operations on a daily basis, these kinds of ATMs could significantly contribute to the extension of banking facilities as no relevant banking infrastructures are yet available.
- NCR is addressing the needs of underbanked populations as banking and self-service players do not often attend these populations.
See previous box and July 2011 Observatory