Not only has the iPad topped Oprah's list of Favorite Things, but in 2011 it may begin to gain popularity among CUs.
According to recent surveys, the use of the tablet in the workplace has been growing, particularly in financial services, technology and health care industries. A Citrix survey found that out of the respondents who don't have an iPad, 62% said they want to purchase and use an iPad for business, and over 40% said their organizations were planning to purchase iPads for employees.
In addition, a Boxtone survey found that 28% of customers were beginning iPad pilots now, 15% in the next three months, 15% in the next six months and 15% next year.
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Credit unions that have adopted the iPad cite benefits ranging from convenience and increased productivity to cost savings. The tablets can be used for taking notes, making presentations, opening accounts and conducting surveys. At Unitus Community Credit Union, Business Development Manager Brett Wooden said the iPad has helped drive the credit union's promise of convenience by enabling him to open accounts on the spot. He said it's not only a solution to grow membership through applications in the field, but it also creates a unique positive member experience.
According to Wooden, although the campaign was originally targeted at reaching the youth market, it has proved popular across all age groups. "It seems pretty popular all the way around," he said.
OMNI Community Credit Union tapped the iPad for help in the boardroom. The Battle Creek, Mich.-based credit union's board went completely paperless and has been using iPads to review documents and work with materials. According to OMNI CEO Ted Parsons, after experiencing the iPad's convenience and ease of use firsthand, he and the executive team saw the benefits for board use as well.
"Our entire executive team has been using the iPad for meetings," he said. "I sit on several boards and was always getting several board packets monthly until I got the iPad and could simply open a file and scroll through the packets without printing them out." Wanting the eight-member board to feel comfortable with the technology, the credit union provided iPad training sessions and encouraged them to just play around. According to Parsons, the iPads have helped the credit union save $200 a month. Board members no longer have to worry about storage or shredding the documents.
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