Death. Taxes. ATM maintenance services. Fortunately, in an increasingly unpredictable world, there are still some things you can count on. Unfortunately, none of those options are particularly appealing.
Generally speaking, you’ll need to conduct regular preventative maintenance and repair. That includes all the little things, like cleaning the ATM, ensuring the lights work, etc. It also means keeping an eye on frequent ATM service issues. Taking a proactive service approach to the parts that wear out the fastest will significantly improve the value and lifecycle of your ATM fleet.
1. The Cash Dispenser
Possibly the most important part of the ATM—the dispenser—dispenses the cash that most users want to withdraw. Those dispensers employ many tiny, moving parts. The smallest mistake could affect the dispenser’s ability to dispense, resulting in incorrect sums or a complete jam.
To make matters worse, the user’s account is still debited in these circumstances. Between the ATM and the user, that’s a lot of headaches for one financial institution.
Because dispensers are among the most frequent ATM service requirements, they should be checked regularly. Aggressive preventative maintenance or replacement is generally more cost-effective than waiting for something to go wrong and then trying to fix it.
2. The Card Reader
The card reader is one of the most common points of contact at an ATM. The card reader reads the magnetic strip on a user’s card, which lets the ATM and financial institution pull up the user’s account information.
If that magnetic strip is damaged, the card is useless. If the card reader is damaged, it can’t read the magnetic strip. Then, the ATM is useless. If your ATM can’t read users’ cards, it can’t be used. The card reader should be checked often to ensure it remains in proper working order.
3. The Keypad
Many ATMs now use touchscreens, which are both futuristic and convenient. But there are still numerous ATMs with physical keypads, which are great but wear out quickly. Because of rough handling, dirt, grime, or extended wear, many keypads require early service.
If you want people to be able to use your keys, monitor your keypads for wear. If keys can’t be depressed, stay depressed, or their faces have worn off, it’s time to do something about it. Otherwise, your cardholders may be unable to use the ATM.
4. The Receipt Printer
Printers run out of ink and toner. They also run out of paper. And, sometimes, they run out of steam, metaphorically speaking. The receipt printer is one of the most frequently repaired items on an ATM.
Keeping your receipt printer running will keep your users happy. It will also help establish trust, as financial paper trails are still extremely useful.
5. The Software
As much as we’d like to think we’ve reached the pinnacle of human technology, we know we haven’t. Touchscreens still seem unresponsive sometimes, and security issues emerge constantly. With the Windows 10 migration deadline looming, the software component of ATMs is under extra scrutiny.
Keeping your ATM fleet updated, patched, and in good working order is crucial. As part of regular maintenance, check your software for viruses, glitches, or other issues.
Further Reading
Knowing what to look for and what to plan for is an important part of keeping your ATM fleet up and running. Good service and regular maintenance will maximize your fleet’s downtime and lifetime value.
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