Cardtronics (NASDAQ: CATM) today announced that its indirectly wholly-owned subsidiary, Cardtronics Creative UK Ltd., has acquired i-design group plc.
Based in Scotland, i-design provides the technology and services that transform ATM screens (and receipts) into delivery devices for interactive customer communications by financial institutions, as well as advertising space for retailers, third-party advertisers and independent ATM owners.
Built on the premise of helping financial services providers, retailers and third-party advertisers make the most of existing customer communications, marketing and ad campaigns, the i-design solution repurposes the "waiting time" in a standard ATM transaction. On an i-design enhanced ATM, screen-saver loops and screens that formerly read "processing" or "please wait" (for example) can deliver targeted marketing/advertising messages, interactive on-screen customer surveys, plus a call-to-action message on the receipt after the transaction.
"In a world where consumer attention seems forever fixed on a screen—smartphones, TVs, tablets, laptops, etc.—it's important to remember the attention-getting quality of a screen known to all demographics, the ATM screen," said Steve Rathgaber, chief executive officer, Cardtronics. "Because an ATM transaction is all about that person's money, they're going to pay extra close attention to that screen. And with tens of thousands of ATMs under Cardtronics' direct control, plus our existing relationships with 1,200 financial institutions and name-brand retailers on two continents, i-design finds its ideal home at Cardtronics."