Walton EMC Company
Walton EMC's transformation with Tidel Smart Safes
Enhancing safety and efficiency in cash management.
Business Objectives
Automate and enhance the safety and efficiency of cash management processes for Walton EMC, reducing risks for employees handling large cash volumes.
Challenges
- Large volumes of daily cash handling were labor-intensive and time-consuming.
- Safety risks for employees making routine bank runs.
- Inconsistencies and inefficiencies in cash-in-transit service caused delays and security concerns.
Solutions
- Implemented Tidel Series 4e smart safes at each payment center, automating cash management, securing cash handling, and providing immediate change as needed.
Results
Smooth Installation
The Tidel Series 4e smart safes were installed seamlessly across three payment centers.
Enhanced Safety
Employee safety and security improved, eliminating the need for daily bank runs.
Increased Operational Efficiency
Faster cash processing and reduced risk led to enhanced customer service and overall operational efficiency.
Background
Walton Electric Membership Corporation (EMC) is a customer-owned, Georgia-based Cooperative utility. Among the top Cooperatives in the south, this non-profit serves residential and small commercial customers in the northeast part of the state, including Walton, Athens-Clarke, Barrow, DeKalb, Greene, Gwinnett, and Morgan counties. The Co-op also provides services to large commercial and industrial customers regardless of location.
Altogether, Walton has 125,000+ customers, 259 employees, and nearly 7,000 miles of line energized.
Walton EMC is also the parent company of Walton Gas, which serves over 73,000 customers with natural gas throughout the state of Georgia, and Walton EMC Cooperative Solar, which has two solar farms that produce approximately 3.5 megawatts of solar electricity for their members.
With payment centers in Monroe, Watkinsville, and Snellville, Walton is one of 38 Georgia Cooperatives that form Green Power EMC, a consortium that uses solar, low-impact hydro, and biomass energies to generate electricity.
Known for its exceptional customer service, skilled employees, and community caring, Walton EMC was rated highest in customer satisfaction for residential natural gas service three years running. It was also rated highest in customer satisfaction among midsize southern utilities in 2014 by J.D. Power & Associates.
The Challenge
Prominence of Cash-Paying Customers
Walton EMC caters to a significant portion of customers preferring cash payments at their strategically located payment centers. This preference results in a substantial daily cash volume requiring deposit, posing management challenges and raising concerns over employee safety during the handling and banking of these large cash amounts.
Concern with Employee Safety
To enhance security, Walton initially employed a cash-in-transit service for safer cash deposit collections, which, while reducing exposure, led to reliability issues and restricted access to cash until collection. These challenges underscored the need for a more effective solution, prompting Walton EMC to explore advanced cash management systems to safeguard employees and streamline operations.
"As a business, we liked the added safety and security that this system offers. We no longer have to have an employee make a bank run. Now, all our managers have to do is give the deposits to Loomis when they arrive for their pickup. As an added bonus, Synovus and Loomis have arranged for us to receive provisional credit for the cash once it’s deposited into the smart safe, so it's available for our use right away. This has given us a tremendous advantage in how we manage our cash flow and working capital."
Darlene Butler
Walton EMC’s accounting supervisor
The Solution
Selecting Tidel Series 4e Smart Safe Solution
Walton EMC, in collaboration with Loomis, implemented the Tidel Series 4e smart safe across its payment centers, integrating advanced features for secure and efficient cash management. The safes are equipped with a color console for system commands, two note validators, secure note cassettes, a vault for manual drops, and a Bulk Coin and Note Dispenser, enhancing change provision capabilities—a feature highly valued by Walton.
Customer Benefits
Installation Occurs Without a Hitch
The installation of the Tidel Series 4e smart safes was seamless across all payment centers, with Walton's cashiers quickly adapting to the new systems. This smooth transition facilitated immediate improvements in cash handling and operational efficiency.
"Our cashiers took to the system right away because it was easy to use and intuitive. They liked that it enabled them to obtain smaller amounts of change whenever they needed it instead of a whole roll of coins. They also liked the fact that they could deposit excess cash in the safe quickly and easily. This prevents them from keeping excess cash in their drawers. The system also helps them close out their drawers faster, saving them time and us money."
Darlene Butler
Walton EMC’s accounting supervisor
Increased Accuracy and Accountability
The adoption of the Tidel Series 4e smart safe solution significantly increased accuracy and accountability in cash management at Walton. The integration of the Loomis SafePoint® dashboard offers a comprehensive view of transactions, enabling detailed daily reporting and enhanced operational oversight.
Conclusion
Today, the Tidel Series 4e and Bulk Coin and Note Dispenser is a key component of Walton EMC’s operations. It has automated Walton’s cash management processes, eliminated the need to make a daily bank run, enhanced safety for its employees, and streamlined its cash balancing process—all while boosting accuracy and accountability. It’s also enabled cashiers to get the exact change when needed, freed them from carrying excess cash in their drawers, and shortened the time it takes to close out a drawer, saving time and money for the Co-op.
Walton EMC has proven that making the investment in a proven cash management system can provide attractive dividends for years to come. The system has automated its cash management processes, fostered a safer and more secure working environment, and has provided peace of mind – all of which enable them to better serve their customers.
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