The ability to make envelope-free deposits at ATMs is the mostimportant technological advancement in recent years for ATMdeployers around the world, a new survey said.

And the ability to make mobile transactions is the toptechnology expected to fuel future ATM growth, according to thesurvey by the ATM Industry Association, a trade association that claims 3,700members in 60 countries.

In ATMIA's first International ATM Innovation Survey, more thanhalf of respondents identified deposit automation, which began in2004 with approval of the Check Clearing for the 21st Century Act,as the top recent ATM innovation, and forecast mobile/contactlesstransactions as the fastest-growing value-adding service in thenext five years.

“The international success of deposit automation shows the valueof innovation at ATMs and we believe we are now entering the mostintense period of innovation in our industry in recent memory,”said Mike Lee, CEO of ATMIA.

According to the survey profile, respondents were senior levelexecutives with significant experience in the ATM and paymentsindustries.

More than half of respondents indicated that tighter regulationsand mandates by the primary global card brands represent thebiggest block to innovation in the ATM industry.

“This is clearly a time of increased innovation in our industrybut we need to be careful about the stifling effects ofover-regulation,” Lee added.

“While deposit automation has made the biggest recent impact ontechnological progress in our industry,” he said, “the survey foundthat the future of innovation lies in greater linkages between ATMsand customer-owned devices in order to create a payments hub whereonline payments, mobile payments and ATM transactions areinterconnected in a seamless customer-focused system.”

To view the full results of the ATMIA Innovation Survey, visitthe white papers section on theATMIA website at www.atmia.com.