Currency Research is inviting delegates

Middle East & Africa Cash Cycle Seminar

ICCOS 2017 in Nairobi, Kenya

(Editor’s Note:- You won’t want to miss out on this years MEA Cash Cycle Seminar! The event in February in Nairobi Kenya promises to surpass previous regional ICCOS events in both quality of presentations and quality networking opportunities. Early Bird registration ends Saturday, December 3rd (which is already today in some parts of the globe – and you have our sincere apologies for the late publishing date, here on CountingOnCurrency!). Register now!

The next Middle East & Africa Cash Cycle Seminar (ICCOS), the premier educational seminar focusing on the efficiency and security of the cash cycle, is taking place in Nairobi, Kenya at the Safari Park Hotel and Casino, from February 13 to 15, 2017. Currency Research (CR) is looking forward to welcoming delegates from central and commercial banks, retailers, suppliers, and other industry stakeholders for three days of engaging presentations within the Plenary Sessions and Sponsor Breakout Meetings, networking opportunities in the Sponsor Exhibit Area, and Panel Discussions to shape the future of the industry. CR will also conduct an exclusive delegate tour of the De La Rue Currency and Security Print Ltd factory!

Nena Vukicevic, Managing Director of Africa & Europe noted that “for the first time ever, the Cash Cycle Seminar (ICCOS) is taking place in Africa. This seminar will open opportunities to everyone involved, end users as well as technology leaders, and it will be an ideal chance to form new relationships and strengthen existing ones. Cash will remain prevalent in Africa for many years to come; however the industry faces many more challenges than in other regions. This is a great chance for industry leaders to get together, sharpen their skills, learn about the latest industry innovations, and to take their organisations to the next level.”

Branch Automation is becoming more pivotal, owing to younger demographic groups deviating away from the more traditional banking channels. Branch Transformation: Tailoring The Branch To Meet Customer Needs, presented by Stanbic Bank, will be of interest to many delegates. The presentation will consider the increasing prevalence of automation in branches and the key importance for banks to maintain consumer loyalty, in part by tailoring transactions to consumers’ needs. This session will explore the role of the teller and the movement towards branch transformation, how banks can achieve cost savings, and the types of new branch environments that are now achievable to improve the customer experience. Stanbic will share their experience implementing deposit automation in their network and how technology can impact the customer flow.
Despite improvements in the payment systems available in Nigeria, currency in circulation continues to increase, indicating that cash still remains a major fixture in the Nigerian economy. This has necessitated the need for a more efficient and effective currency management approach, championed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) who will present The New Nigerian Cash Management Model: Challenges & Prospects. This presentation sheds light on the new Nigerian Cash Management Model, discussing the inefficiencies/areas for attention in the value chain, and analyzes the available options by looking at the current economic situation, implications for stakeholders, and how this effects implementation of a model that is beneficial to all stakeholders.

Building upon CBN’s topic, Integrated Cash Management Services will present their views on the current changes in the country through The Evolution of Cash-In-Transit (CIT) Services In Nigeria. This presentation is a first-hand account of the structure and evolution of the CBN, Currency Issuance and Cash-in-Transit (CIT) Services. It will examine the developments in the industry over the years and focus on current developments and initiatives. The presentation will conclude with the challenges faced by the industry and a set of recommendations for the future.

Kenya’s accessibility within Africa will allow for many high-ranking representatives from across the continent to take to the stage and present on the following topics:

• Transforming the Cash Cycle in Ghana by Bank of Ghana and Cash Processing Solutions (CPS) Ltd.
• Customer Experience Revolution: Merging Physical and Digital by Glory Global Solutions
• How Africa Can Save Money by The Royal Mint
• Looking Beyond ROI in Cash Center Automation by Giesecke & Devrient
• High-Security Paper with Near Infrared Fluorescent Security Elements by Radece Papir
• Securing High Denomination Coins by The South African Mint Company
• Quality Control – A Different Approach to Single Note Inspection by Cash Processing Solutions (CPS) Ltd.
• Quality Check For Acceptance: An Innovative Automatic Banknote Batch Qualification (In Collaboration with Banque De France) by In-Core Systèmes

With plenty of opportunities to network and two cocktail receptions taking place in the exhibition area, delegates can meet with all the leading suppliers who are sponsoring the conference. These companies will be on hand to demonstrate and educate on the newest technologies, innovations, and techniques in the industry, as well as presenting ways that can assist issuing authorities and financial institutions alike to create efficiencies and reduce costs within the cash management function. The current sponsors of the seminar include: Giesecke & Devrient, Innovia Systems, The Royal Mint, Cash Processing Solutions, I Network Automation, Glory Global Solutions, The South African Mint, Adsure, In-Core Systems, Royal Dutch Kusters Engineering, Rade?e Papir Nova, and Sargent & Greenleaf.

The industry suppliers will be presenting on their latest technology and innovations in the Sponsor Breakout Meetings, with key topics such as Get Connected to the Virtual World of Cash Processing: Don’t Accept Less in Business than at Home by Giesecke & Devrient. This breakout meeting will explore how “Today, cash processing extends far beyond stand- alone, off-line banknote counting systems. Instead, it requires connected systems that meet the IT-network, security and communication protocol requirements of the modern IT-infrastructure they are embedded within. On top, software solutions are integrated into a bank’s or a cash center’s business processes. An ecosystem of related banknote processing solutions, along with data and service management applications, will support this integration and assure cost efficient, future proof cash management.”

The Innovia Systems presentation, Most Central Banks Have Clean Note Policies for Notes in Circulation but How can Monitoring be Achieved in a Consistent, Uniform Manner?, will consider the following:

“As Central Banks and their commercial partners increasingly look to outsource note processing, how do they maintain visibility of the quality and authenticity of notes in the cash cycle? Innovia Systems has developed a range of solutions that enable organizations involved in banknote recirculation or policy enforcement to assess the authenticity of notes and also establish the quality of notes in a consistent manner at both a regional and national level. On top smart automation, standardization and digitalization further increase efficiency throughout the cash cycle. Both, bank branches – with their widely distributed network of smaller processing devices – and even more so cash centers, expect high system availability and stringent security.”

Other breakout meetings include:

• Cash Processing Trends & Case Study by Glory Global Solutions
• Automation – How Can it be Used in Cash Processing? by Cash Processing Solutions (CPS) Ltd.
• Currency Forecasting – How to Get it Right by the Royal Mint
• The Increasing Popularity of Alternative Substrates to the More Traditional Cotton Offers New Challenges for Counterfeiters, and Brings Confidence to the Market – Provided it is Appropriately Equipped by Innovia Systems
• 360 Degree Security in The Cash Center by Giesecke & Devrient

Visit the MEA website breakout sessions information page to read more!

Exclusively for Central Bank delegates, CR has organized a structured day of workshops all within the Pre-Seminar Central Bank Summit, on Monday, February 13^th. The day will involve four workshops, starting with the ‘Common Currency’ workshop led by Antti Heinonen from the Banknote Ethics Initiative: “This interactive session will examine how the East African Community aims at widening and deepening co-operation and to this extent establish a Monetary Union. The preparation for the cash changeover is one of the areas where a monetary union has the longest lead time. This workshop will interactively consider the relevant issues from a cash department’s perspective. It will address the basic characteristics required from common banknotes, organization of their production and preparations for a successful issuance, and will also focus on measures which are indispensable after the cash changeover. The workshop will enlighten attendees on the various options available, best practices and lessons learnt.” 

This workshop is followed by interactive workshops from industry leading experts who will discuss:

• Banknote Destruction – Balancing Security, Reliability and Cost Efficiency by Giesecke & Devrient
• Cash Cycle Infrastructure by Innovia Systems
• The Importance of Knowing Your True Seigniorage by The Royal Mint

To round out the agenda, CR in conjunction with De La Rue are pleased to offer a tour of the De La Rue Currency and Security Print Ltd Factory on Thursday, February 16^th. In August 2016 De La Rue created this new security printing joint venture in Nairobi with the Government of Kenya, and it is one of De La Rue’s three global Centres of Excellence for banknote and security printing, producing for both the domestic and export markets. The facility employs approximately 290 people locally, and will produce 1 billion banknotes per year. The tour is free of charge and open to most seminar delegates; make sure to register early to secure your place on the tour as space is limited!

Due to space limitations, you are encouraged to register soon for the Middle East & Africa Cash Cycle Seminar 2017 (ICCOS) to attend this distinguished industry event and join your peers and colleagues in Nairobi, Kenya!

Register Here