Innovative solution driven by RNIB’s Make Money Talk campaign is part
of a wider Nationwide ATM update based on NCR APTRA™ software
LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 9, 2013--
NCR
Corporation (NYSE: NCR), the global leader in consumer transaction
technologies, and Nationwide
Building Society announced today that
Nationwide Building Society is deploying NCR’s Voice Guidance
text-to-voice capabilities to improve access at ATMs for visually
impaired customers. The innovative project is in partnership with Royal
National Institute of Blind People (RNIB)
and part of a wider software update for Nationwide’s ATMs in the UK that
is based on NCR
APTRA™ software.
Nationwide will roll-out a pilot of the Voice Guidance solution to 50
Nationwide branches in Q4 2013. Seventy-five percent of Nationwide’s
1,300 branch ATMs will have the functionality by the end of February
2014.
“As part of our continuing efforts to improve our service, we must
ensure that the consumer experience continues to be enhanced for all
customers,” said Chris Shott, Head of Property & Corporate Services at
Nationwide Building Society. “This includes the large number of visually
impaired customers who bank with Nationwide. To achieve this, we have
partnered closely with the RNIB and NCR to scope out what is required.
We are proud of this innovative software-based solution that will soon
be rolled out across most Nationwide branch ATMs in the U.K.”
The upgrade, driven by Nationwide, is in partnership with NCR and
aligned with RNIB’s Make Money Talk campaign. Originally
launched in 2011, RNIB’s campaign highlighted how only 11 percent of
the 2 million people with sight loss in the U.K. used ATMs without
assistance compared to 80 percent of the general public. RNIB has
actively encouraged major U.K. banks to make Britain's ATM network
accessible to blind and partially sighted people.
Fazilet Hadi, RNIB's group director of Inclusive Society said, “We are
delighted that Nationwide has worked with NCR to begin rolling out
speech-enabled ATMs, benefiting thousands of people with sight loss. We
believe all banks in the U.K. should provide cash machines with audio
facilities for their blind and partially sighted customers.”
Nationwide is deploying NCR
APTRA Advance NDC. It includes Voice Guidance text-to-voice
capabilities and is the world’s most popular self-service ATM software
for NDC (NCR Direct Connect) host environments. Based on Microsoft
Windows®, it enables retail banks to drive a single application across
multiple vendors’ hardware, providing many transactions ‘out-of-the-box’
and a platform for the rapid deployment of new ATM software
functionality.
“High quality, interactive experiences for consumers at financial
institutions are fundamental to the long-term success of those
institutions. This includes provision of services for customers who are
visually impaired,” said Rachel Nash, director of Financial Services at
NCR U.K. “At NCR we are committed to enabling this type of
inclusiveness, as we believe it is something that all organisations
should aspire to. We are proud to be working with the RNIB and financial
institutions, such as Nationwide, to define and develop the software,
hardware and services required to make it a reality.”
Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation
About NCR Corporation
NCR Corporation (NYSE: NCR) is the global leader in consumer transaction
technologies, turning everyday interactions with businesses into
exceptional experiences. With its software, hardware, and portfolio of
services, NCR enables more than 300 million transactions daily across
the retail, financial, travel, hospitality, telecom and technology
industries. NCR solutions run the everyday transactions that make your
life easier.
NCR is headquartered in Duluth, Georgia with over 26,000 employees and
does business in 180 countries. NCR is a trademark of NCR Corporation in
the United States and other countries.
Web site: www.ncr.com
Twitter: @NCR_UK
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ncrcorp
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/ncr-corporation
YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/ncrcorporation
About Nationwide Building Society
Nationwide is the world's largest building society as well as the second
largest savings provider and a top-three provider of mortgages in the
UK. It is also a major provider of current accounts, credit cards, ISAs
and personal loans. Nationwide has around 15 million members.
Customers can manage their finances in a branch, on the telephone,
internet and post. The Society has around 15,000 employees. Nationwide's
head office is in Swindon with administration centres based in
Northampton, Bournemouth and Dunfermline. The Society also has a number
of call centres across the UK.
Source: NCR Corporation
NCR UK
Andy Phillips, 02077258248
andy.phillips@ncr.com
or
Nationwide
Building Society
Anthony Hua, 020 7261 6218 | 07793 308339
Anthony.Hua@nationwide.co.uk
