A new and virtually foolproof concept in DROPSafe security using advanced recognition software that automates the counting of money deposits has been launched onto the South African market by the Security Products Business Unit of Analysis, Management & Systems (AMS).
The patented DROPSafe system promises to set a new level of security for businesses regularly transporting large amounts of cash payments held in DROPSafe strongboxes for banking. Nevertheless, it comes onto the market at around half the cost of competitive units using standard note counting devices, assures AMS Security Business Unit manager, Brian Scriven.
The electronic unit, which is about the size of a shoebox, is designed to fit on top of the DROPSafe, reducing the size of the opening through which notes are passed to a 2mm slot through the safe into the strongbox. Each note deposited into the safe passes through a sophisticated note validator which automatically counts up exactly how much is being deposited and produces its own deposit or tally slip as a printout.
Counterfeits are automatically rejected and spat out.
Scriven, who masterminded design of the DROPSafe unit, describes it as "essentially, a reversed ATM."
"The beauty of the system is that whatever DROPSafe validates is definitely physically in the box," he says. "It can^1t read cheques or any other paper pushed through, and it eliminates the possibility of a hand reaching into the deposit area, so there can be no discrepancy between cash amounts and tallyslip . Also, everything that goes through the validator is immediately registered as a deposit into the bank account.
"It is, in effect, a terminal to the bank."
What this means, in effect, says Scriven, is that the previous risk of theft or fraud to both business and bank transferring and receiving DROPSafe -secured cash is very substantially reduced.
"Wall mounted dropsafes have become extremely popular amongst retail and other business outlets receiving large amounts of cash daily. The safes are built into a standard external wall and cash is deposited into the strongbox held inside the safe by hand, along with a deposit slip. The safe door is on the outside wall, allowing security companies to collect the strongbox at any time of day or night.
"They are the only people with keys to access the safe.
"The problem is that there is no easy way of ensuring that deposit slips are written up accurately to reflect the amount of money actually deposited," Scriven continues. "If there is a discrepancy when the bank teller, who is the only person with keys to the strongbox, opens it and discovers the amounts don^1t tally, it is almost impossible to establish exactly when or where the money went missing. In most cases business and bank are forced to split the loss.
"DROPSafe effectively overcomes this problem without necessitating any further security investments or major change in operational or security routines. Businesses already using wall mounted, or any other kind of dropsafe will be able to easily fit the unit onto their existing structures and will not have to invest in a new safe or strongbox."
The concept was originally in part a response to requests from the petroleum industry, not only for more foolproof DROPSafe security, but also to help overcome the problem of late cash deposits to the bank.
Scriven explains: "Fuel deliveries are usually made on a Tuesday and Thursday and by law, each garage has to pay up front before it can be offloaded into the pumps. But what happens if the security company arrives late on Wednesday afternoon and can^1t bank the money on time?
"If there is not enough money in the garage account, the tanker will simply carry on to the next stop without dumping any fuel, and it won^1t return until the following Tuesday. The garage owner can sit for almost a week with dry pumps.
"With DROPSafe however, deposits are automatically recorded into the bank account even before the money is physically transferred, making it great for business as well as security."
AMS had a demo unit on display at South Africa^1s premier security products exhibition, Securex, at Gallagher Estate in March and the unit attracted significant interest.
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