COMPANIES are beginning to realise that if they can provide their staff with the workplace facilities they need to carry out their personal business, staff spend a lot less time out of the office.

Cristina Sapsezian, operations director of ATM Solutions, says when the company first began operations it targeted retailers as the sites for its ATMs. However, there are now other opportunities the company can explore, and it has created a new focus area for the business the workplace.

"We have identified banking at work as an opportunity for our ATMs. It means targeting work environments as potential sites, rolling out our machines in offices, factories and mines."

She says it makes a lot of sense for employers. A single employee making a trip to an external ATM can cost the company as much as an hour of productive time. Across an entire organisation the total cost to the company can be significant.

By providing facilities to its employees, organisations can demonstrate that they understand their needs and that they operate as a caring employer.

"There are other benefits as well. For example, factory workers often withdraw all their wages soon after they are paid. However, if they have ready access to an ATM in the workplace they are more likely to withdraw funds only as needed.

"This makes employees less of a target for thieves and helps them to pace their expenditure."

She says the new ATMs allow users to top up their prepaid cellphones with any network operators.

"We are now adding Easypay, so that employees can pay their monthly bills from the in-work ATM. Employees will therefore be able to conduct most of their banking and personal finance tasks in a few minutes each month, all from the workplace and with minimal downtime," Sapsezian says.

She says while the bank-at-work concept is in its infancy, the reception from the marketplace has been good and the company believes it has created a market that will have strong potential in the future.

Employers do not have to meet banking institutions' minimum transaction volumes in order to install ATMs.

Instead, employers can simply order the facility and the transaction volumes generated by the ATM will help to offset the cost and, in some cases, may even cover the cost altogether.

"Bank-at-work is not a profit centre but rather a human resources issue that can help to enhance a company's existing employment practices to deliver happier and more productive employees.

"We have several installations in major blue chip companies and they are already proving their worth," Sapsezian says.

Feb 19 2004 07:48:49:000AM Business Day 1st Edition