By John Cox
National Accounts
Technical Transportation, Inc

As cash management systems—like cash recyclers, coin counters, smart safes, and cash exchange machines —are starting to become everyday norms, the need for logistics providers to transport, deliver, and install cash-management equipment is on the fast track.

If you don’t believe me, just ask a retailer.

Cash recyclers are advanced systems that automate cash-room processes for organizations such as big-box retailers, grocery stores, and other institutions that manage large volumes of cash every day. These large, heavy and delicate machines can accept, dispense and secure the cash needed to run a store’s day-to-day operations.

In a similar vein, the smaller, yet sizable, smart safe also automates cash operations of busy retail environments—all while deterring theft and reducing bank fees.

These machines offer huge benefits to retailers – both from a banking convenience as well as reduction in bank deposit fees perspective. But, because of their complexity and weight, they can also be a huge pain to deliver and install, unless you have the expertise within your supply chain to do the job right.

A typical buyer of these cash management systems is often not set up to receive in and install the equipment themselves – primarily because they may lack the necessary skilled labor and warehouse equipment needed, as their locations are tailored to their walk-in consumers. In addition to this challenge, retailers seek to maximize their return on investment in store personnel and floor space, so the activities surrounding the delivery and installations of these devices may be taking up valuable employee time and retail space better spent on serving customers.

With all of these factors in mind, how can a manufacturer or distributor of such equipment take this challenging aspect of the sale and spin it into a seamless experience for their retail customers? The key is in optimizing the on-site activities at time of delivery; such as partnering with an experienced logistics provider who has the right core competencies to minimize the impact to your customer.

When looking for such a partner, you need to consider:

1. Your typical delivery company may not be equipped to deliver these machines,especially with the heavier (1,500+ lb.) cash recyclers. Your provider needs to have specialized personnel, gear, tools and know-how to properly transport and move this equipment, particularly when the job calls for installation in small retail or back-office spaces.

2. Your provider should have an established track-record in shipping cash-management systems. Providers need to know the ins-and-outs of your systems, and the experience of maneuvering product within your customers’ facilities. These activities include parts/areas of the equipment that are fragile or sensitive, best practices for lifting and equipment handling within the building, and the process for installing the equipment to make it ready for end-users to operate. It is critical that the delivery and installation happens quickly to minimize disruption to the end customer and their store resources, as well reducing the impact to retail customers due to store downtime.

3. You should work with a turnkey logistics resource. Your white-glove delivery partner should make your job easier by providing all of the services you need to handle the process. This is not only limited to the delivery itself – the pickup, transportation, remote storage, and installation of your products all play a part in the experience of your customer receiving their new device. Your delivery partner should be confident and capable in each of the activities mentioned above to ensure the job is done seamlessly. Challenge your partner to take on these tasks while you spend your time doing what you do best—running your business.

Do you need help delivering and installing cash management systems? Contact us today to learn more.