Instant issuance is a customer-centric solution that has been gaining traction in the banking world, with 55% of financial institutions predicted to be using one by 2021, according to recent research conducted by Aite Group. [1]

We covered why instant issuance has become so popular in a previous post in this series Three ways instant issuance transforms the customer experience‘. In summary, instant issuance is being used as a strategic solution to help financial institutions better serve their members.

As digital technologies proliferate markets to provide convenience to customers, the traditional way of doing business will not keep customers happy. Instant issuance represents the next step in debit and credit card delivery evolution. It adds greater convenience and flexibility for customers, while also adding a heightened level of efficiency.

Usage of instant issuance varies among branches, one credit union is using instant issuance for 90% of its card printing, and does have a measurable impact on encouraging the use of lower cost self-service channels, decreasing the amount of non-value add in-branch transactions by 21% [1]. It has demonstrated that it can be a useful strategy for improving member satisfaction and increasing operational efficiency.

When the World’s Largest Credit Union Embraced Instant Issuance

Another credit union – Navy Federal Credit Union – wanted to enhance convenience for its members and increase satisfaction with a scalable in-branch instant issuance solution. Starting with nine strategically selected branches, the implementation of instant issuance software and systems with associated supplies was so successful they now use EMV instant issuance in all 287 of its branches.

The number one benefit Navy Federal enjoys about instant issuance is being able to reduce card first usage by ten days. With members using their cards sooner, Navy Federal appreciates the increase in monthly average purchases from those who obtained their cards instantly.

What Does It Cost to Implement Instant Issuance?

We’ve identified the benefits of instant issuance in the first two blog posts in the series, but whether or not it makes sense to use an instant issuance solution will come down to its value as an investment.

The cost and complexity of implementation for instant issuance continue to decrease as a result of the increasing rate of adoption (55% of all financial institutions using instant issuance by 2021). The more who use a given technology, the more streamlined the implementation process is.

Aite Group provides an overview of implementation costs (hardware, security, integration, set up of cards and images), ongoing licensing, maintenance and support for 12 branches, with a calculated total cost of between US$100,000 and US$120,000 with an expected printing volume of 60 cards per month. [1]

INVESTMENTS ARE BEING MADE IN INSTANT ISSUANCE:

1/3 of large banks have instant issuance 24% of banks 29% of credit unions

46 of the top 120 financial institutions have implemented instant issuance.

Total of US$778.9 million invested as of 2017 [1]

There are practical things to consider when it comes to making an investment in a solution that enhances customer satisfaction and traditional card printing strategies such as central issuance.

What are those things to consider when evaluating your decisions?

UP NEXT: 4 THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING AN INSTANT ISSUANCE SOLUTION

 

1 – ‘Instant Issuance: U.S. Current State Assessment’, Aite Group, 2017