General Electric Credit Union (GECU) has always been committed to providing exceptional banking experiences to its members. With an initiative called “Voice of the Member,” the Credit Union strives to gather feedback from its members and use their input to make its services better and easier to use. A frequent observation was the need for more privacy during transactions, especially during sensitive conversations with personal tellers at their Interactive Teller Machines (ITMs).

 

ITMs are similar to traditional teller lines in that members communicate with a live teller, however the tellers at ITMs appear on video screen instead and their voice is usually amplified through traditional built-in speakers. With multiple ITMs per location, this system resulted in a loud environment where GECU desired to increase member privacy. Though the ITMs are equipped with handset receivers for private conversations, hygiene became a heightened concern, especially during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

To address these issues, GECU turned to Holosonics’ Audio Spotlight speakers, which create a highly focused sound beam that can be directed to a specific area, allowing for private conversations. The directional sound of the speakers ensures that only the intended listener at each ITM position hears their respective audio feed —without any noticeable bleed from station to station— while the surrounding area remains quiet, creating a more peaceful and confidential environment.

“The Audio Spotlight has been a great success, so we are now looking to retro-fit additional lobby ITMs with this technology.”
— Van Williams, GECU’s ITM Product Specialist

PRODUCT USED IN THIS INSTALLATION

AS-168iX

ADVANTAGES

  • Sound for specific displays - and quiet elsewhere.

  • Several soundtracks in one room - without disturbing others or interfering with one another.

  • Untethered sound delivery, without the need for messy headphone wires or unsanitary handsets.

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JUNE 14-16 | ORLANDO, FL

GECU selected its Highland Heights branch in Kentucky to pilot the Audio Spotlight speakers, and the feedback from members was overwhelmingly positive. The directed sound technology solved the privacy issue, and the audio came through even more clearly than before.

Van Williams, GECU’s ITM Product Specialist who drove the Holosonics’ integration, was impressed by the inherently touchless nature of the Audio Spotlight technology, which limited the need of the handsets, making the ITMs more hygienic and safer to use.

Williams was also attracted to the sleek appearance of the thin, flat Audio Spotlight speakers, specifically the AS-168iX model in white finish, and how the technology integrated seamlessly and unobtrusively into the lobby environment.

GECU uses the popular NCR SelfServ 80 Series ITMs, and the existing splits/feeds of audio signal flow were not disturbed when the internal speakers were replaced. Off-the-shelf NCR harness adapters provided simple plug-and-play integration, ensuring the redistributed audio feed to the Audio Spotlight systems maintained ADA Compliance requirements for the ITMs, while enhancing the accessibility of the machines for its members.

Holosonics now has the blueprint for this proven integration with NCR and excitedly anticipates applying their technology and expertise to help more banking clients overcome similar obstacles.

In the meantime, Holosonics will continue to collaborate with General Electric Credit Union. “The Audio Spotlight has been a great success, so we are now looking to retro-fit additional lobby ITMs with this technology,” says Williams. “With any new, future branch openings, we will most certainly be implementing the Audio Spotlight speakers.”

Contact us to learn more about how Audio Spotlight focused sound technology can benefit your project, just as it has improved the experience for ITM users of General Electric Credit Union.