The majority of credit unionshave fully embraced electronic cash letter processing by installingscanners in the back office of their branches. They capture itemselectronically using what the industry today calls “branchcapture.”

Today, the question on the minds of credit union executives is,“What are the opportunities to extract more value from my existingimage-based item processing solution?” As a result, credit unionsare looking to additional capture points, especially at the tellerline, at the ATM, and with the smartphone. Expanding remote depositcapture capabilities will help to reduce transaction costs, improveservice levels and boost employee productivity.

Teller capture is the primary focus for credit unions that areinvesting in new branch technology in 2014. Fraud reduction andshorter processing times intrinsic to teller capture mean that bothemployee productivity and member service improve.

However, not all teller capture solutions are created equal.Superficially, they provide similar features, but subtledifferences in functionality can dramatically impact your totalcost of ownership for these solutions. Even more important, thesesubtle differences can significantly impact member service levelsat your credit union.

Below are four key features you should consider before investingin a teller capture solution.

Feature 1: Transaction Validation

Transaction validation automatically compares the check amountentered by the both teller and the amount read by the checkscanner. Transaction validation provides a fail-safe againstscanner misreads – which are common no matter what type of scanneris used – as well as human error.

If your credit union relies solely on either the scanner or theteller for validation, you open the door for trouble: simple dataentry errors cause a domino effect that includes posting errors andexception processing headaches that last long after the deposit hasbeen processed. You can substantially reduce the volume of Day 2corrections when the teller manually enters the transaction amountand then the scanner validates that amount.

Feature 2: Cross-Channel DuplicateDetection

As remote capture points continue to grow in popularity,duplicates will become increasingly difficult to manage, both atthe point of presentment and in clearings. Most teller capturesolution providers offer duplicate detection, but only at theteller line.

For instance, if a teller accidentally scans the same checktwice, the software will notify the teller on the second scan thatitem has already been scanned. However, what happens when a memberdeposits a check remotely using their smartphone and laterinadvertently brings the same check to a branch for deposit?

Only a sophisticated solution that aggregates andcross-references check images from all capture points will be ableto notify the teller that a duplicate is being deposited in realtime. If you can eliminate duplicates at the teller line, you willreduce Day 2 adjustments, and improve member service at the tellerline.

Feature 3: Scanner Support

What kind of scanners do you want to use? This is important,because the hardware cost of a teller capture solution issignificant. Ask your vendor which scanner brands and models theysupport. You will likely want to invest in multiple scannertypes. For example, tellers will need more robust scanners that canscan large batches of checks at high speed with minimal misreads. Member service representatives might need less expensivesingle-check scanners on their desktops for occasionaltransactions. You can lower costs if you can tailor scanner typebased on employee role.

Feature 4: System Reliability

System downtime is a serious consideration for any member-facingtechnology. Most teller capture solutions are dependent on coreprocessor uptime. However, what happens when your core processorexperiences an outage? Unfortunately, tellers cannot scan checksand they must process deposits manually. Not only dooperational costs skyrocket when work has to be entered after thecore is restored, but it also negatively impacts members trying tomake their deposits. Select a teller capture solution that canoperate independently of the core in order to minimize servicedisruptions and to maintain member service levels.

Not all teller capture providers are created equal. Dig intospecific system functionality and determine which solution offersthe best match for your credit union's needs. Take the time toresearch all of your options during the system search. You willreap the rewards of lower transaction costs, higher employeeproductivity, and better member service levels.

AndrewTilbury is chief marketing officer for Bluepoint Solutions inHenderson, Nev.