In a world of choice, Bank of Ireland has decided to focus on what it does best–banking–and outsource non-core business activities to specialists such as Wincor Nixdorf.

For more than two years, the Irish financial giant has been using Wincor Nixdorf to install and manage its off-site network of ATMs in Ireland. And more recently, the bank has turned to the German IT manufacturer and service provider to supply, install and maintain ATM hardware and software in the U.K., and manage the off-site cash dispensing network as part of a huge financial self-service contract with the U.K. post office, the Royal Mail Group PLC.

The aim of both ATM projects is twofold: To increase transaction revenue and establish new customer relationships without having to dedicate huge financial and human resources to its cash dispensing operations. It is a winning business proposition not only for all the partners–Bank of Ireland, Royal Mail Group and Wincor Nixdorf–but also for their retail customers.

“ATMs increase ‘footfall,’ or customer frequency, which in turn increases revenue in stores,” says Alan Walsh, Managing Director at Wincor Nixdorf in Ireland. “When consumers come into stores to get cash, they typically use some of that money to buy goods. In small stores, ATMs can help boost sales by 10 percent and in larger stores by as much as 2 percent, which is significant considering the far larger number of shoppers in these outlets.”