Check Scanner Guide: RDC Check Scanners vs. Teller Check Scanners

​From your personal technology to banking technology, getting the best from your device depends on how you use it. Optimizing your banking technology is all about matching features with use. Banks and credit union can achieve higher ROIs on check scanners or teller printers simply by implementing the right technology in the right environment. With teller capture or remote deposit capture (RDC), often times matching environment to scanner can be difficult. This article in our Check Scanner Guide Series will shed some light on how to best assign device to environment. However, Benchmark wants you to always have all of the information to make your decision so please reach out to our team to help find the best check scanner for your needs. 

​Purpose
The purpose of technology is to make life easier but placing technology in an incompatible environment won’t allow your technology to thrive. Understanding purpose for your check scanner is a determining factor in selecting a compatible device. Some of our partners even categorize devices by purpose when cataloging devices. Check scanners that suit teller needs have capabilities that don’t benefit RDC check scanner users. Tellers conduct teller capture in banks and credit unions; meaning tellers will scan checks at their pod or on the teller line. Teller capture requires efficiency and speed. Tellers would suffer with single-feed check scanners with a slower speed. Banks and credit unions rely on the efficiencies of their tellers to create positive customer experience while also minimizing operational lag. A check scanner with out the capabilities to assist tellers now becomes a huge issue for not only the financial institution but also the customer. However, RDC end-users are not in a teller capture situation and therefore do not require the same capabilities. Often, speed and efficiency may come as an hidden extra cost in the price of the scanner, making teller capture printers not cost-beneficial to RDC end-users. RDC clients should instead target check scanners with reliability and precision. RDC end-users are small businesses looking for easy and affordable solutions. Adding a fast-paced and lean check scanner might intimidate a new RDC client. Providing RDC clients with user-friendly and trusty scanners would be more cost-effective and compatible.
  
Speed
Speed and purpose are directly linked. Purpose helps determine what check scanner speed will be optimal for your environment. Check scanners classify speed as documents per minute (dpm). Each check scanner will list speed measured in dpm. From a teller perspective the faster the check scanner, the faster I can serve the next customer or faster processing means more time to engage the customer. The fastest check scanners have speeds of 100 -120 dpm, while slower scanners reach only 60 dpm. Teller capture will require the higher speeds to ensure the best experience possible for the customer. At 60 dpm, RDC clients will still experience fast check scanning but without having to pay for the advanced pricing of faster check scanners. Another aspect of check scanners affects speed, volume. With multi-feed check scanners the more checks you scan the faster that check scanner will be. Multi-feed scanners adjust efficiency based on how many checks are being scanned and with a larger volume, multi-feed scanners work more quickly.
 
Multi-feed
Teller capture check scanners will most likely be multi-feed check scanners while RDC end-users will most likely be using single-feed check scanners. Multi-feed check scanners work better with more checks being scanned, but also offer higher speeds and a faster overall process. Single feed check scanners are very accommodating to RDC end users both in price but also in capabilities. While all of our partners do a fantastic work in manufacturing high-quality check scanners that can work in any environment, selecting the best check scanner for your needs is essential. We offer a deeper look into speed and feed capabilities in our ongoing Check Scanner Guide series. Check out those resources or get in touch with us if you need any extra information or guidance in your check scanner journey.