Altron Managed Solutions & NCR Signal Massive Makeover

Bytes Managed Solutions and NCR Signal Massive Makeover to Banking with Highly Secure Cloud-Based ATM Software PlatformNCRs Kalpana„¢ software transforms the ATM channel, introducing ground-breaking security designed to eliminate malware and reduce total cost of ownership by up to 40%Bytes Managed Solutions (Bytes MS), through its partnership with NCR, today introduced the biggest change to the way an ATM operates since the self-service banking channel was invented nearly 50 years ago. NCR Corporation (NYSE: NCR), the global leader in consumer transaction technologies, together with Bytes MS – NCRs exclusive partner in South Africa for more than four decades –  has launched Kalpana software, an enterprise software platform that moves ATM software and operations to the cloud.Kalpana software runs ATMs remotely, initially through a thin-client ATM including an Android operating system, and is designed to eliminate malware and enable rapid deployment of new devices and ATM services, to reduce costs by up to 40 percent, and create amazing customer experiences. Kalpana software seamlessly blends into existing banking and IT infrastructure, connecting to existing ATM networks and other consumer-facing channels to allow transactions and services to be shared and re-used elsewhere. This dynamic allows financial institutions and independent ATM deployers to run a combination of conventional ATMs and thin client ATMs.This new software platform will revolutionise the domestic ATM security market in addition to reducing operating costs and will greatly improve and accelerate the process of bringing new ATM services to market, said, Alan Anderson, Bytes MS Business Development Director. Apart from the operational cost savings and commonly known efficiencies that come with any cloud-based platform or solution, the Kalpana platform will greatly reduce the expenditure associated with power management, security updates, paper receipts and other consumables and the deployment of new ATMs. NCRs Kalpana software is the most disruptive change to the ATM ecosystem in decades. Business and consumer applications are increasingly turning to enterprise or cloud-based solutions that reshape security and enable fast, nimble and dynamic customer experiences, said Dimitri Kanellopoulos, NCR country manager, South Africa. Kalpana software is ideal for financial institutions and independent ATM deployers looking to improve security, quickly advance service delivery through technology, and reshape their cost to serve.Traditionally, ATMs have run on thick-client, PC-based software and hardware technologies physically found in the ATM. When compared to other consumer channels, such as online and mobile, this legacy PC architecture is more inefficient, expensive and complex. These challenges have become heightened following recent industry issues related to security and compliance. Kalpana software is more secure than traditional ATM software because all software updates are originated and controlled at the server level.Kalpana software greatly improves agility, helping bring new ATM services to market twice as fast as before, while also significantly decreasing the cost of:¢ Deploying new ATMs¢ Security updates¢ Power management¢ Paper receipts and other consumables¢ Remote management via cloud-based data flow¢ Support for dispute resolutionThin-client ATMsThe Kalpana software is part of an enterprise platform that can deliver transactions and services to traditional ATMs with Windows„¢ operating systems, as well as new thin-client ATMs. These ATMs can be either NCR or non-NCR branded. In order to maximise the value of the software, NCR is simultaneously launching a new thin-client hardware solution: the NCR Cx110 ATM. The ATM looks dramatically different than a traditional ATM, with a sleek, curved interface on a thin bezel. Its 10-inch touchscreen replaces the traditional pinpad, and integrated biometrics and cameras provide ATM operators and consumers with the latest in security and user experiences.The Cx110 ATM uses tablet technology in combination with cloud technology to move control and security of ATM transactions to the deployers enterprise infrastructure. The NCR Cx110 ATM includes minimal client software to run the ATM. The vast majority of the bank or ATM operators software stack is located on enterprise servers. This new approach will reduce the cost of operating ATMs, by allowing software maintenance and upgrades to be controlled in a centralised location and providing secure automatic updates, avoiding costly visits to each ATM.The Kalpana software will lead to the type of innovation found in mobile devices. Currently, new ATM services can take months or years to bring to market as operators navigate through a myriad of vendors, including processors, switches, ATM vendors, regulators and software makers. By operating as an enterprise services hub that integrates with an ATM operators transactional and information systems, the Kalpana software can introduce new services at twice the speed of today at a much lower cost.