A world where everything is run by self service,  and interactive technology is not that far around the corner when you think about it.

The idea of interactive adverts directly targeting you as you walk into a store and everything being processed by a simple but hi-tech gadget all sounds very Matrix-style but the reality may be within reaching distance according to an article we stumbled across on The Times website.

The article focuses on high street banking in 2020 and how different it will be in comparison to what it is at present. Already the banking systems in place feature an array of self service systems such as ATM’s, paying-in machines, etc which has made managing our accounts and finances easier.

The plan for the future, however is very different and far more advanced than you will of ever thought of before.

The technology article looks at different opinions from industry experts around the globe and what they think about the world of self service and how it will implode into the high street banking world in no time at all.

Banks are continuously making their services more accessible and flexible in order to accommodate for their customers by reducing queue times and developing 24-hour online banking systems.

The new ideas surrounding a new and interactive bank look at targeting customers through specific advertisements.

For example if your mortgage was up for renewal or you had requested information on a specific loan in the past, advertisements will let you know the best deal the bank can do for you that day.

From here, customers may be directed to a self service kiosk where they can talk directly to a call-centre worker or the expert who is deemed best placed to deal with your problem.

Jason Bacon, head of digital marketing at Lloyds TSB, says, “The bank branch is not going to go away but it will adapt. Customers will be able to talk to specialists using video either in branch or from home.”

Mr Bacon also expects that many high street banks will start to use social networking sites to contact their customers about specific offers, deals, as well as local information about ATM machines that are not in use as well as opening and closing times of banks.

There has even been talks of identifying people through fingerprints, iris or even full face scans through kiosks installed through the bank.

Andrew Clare, Professor of Asset Management at Cass Business School, London, says, “The technology has already been developed and may well be adopted as a way of making banking safer.”

However, the thought of paying for our clothes, food and holidays with our fingertips seems a little too far fetched at this stage with many experts thinking it will take a while before this takes place.

Protouch are a leading distributor and manufacturer of touch screen technology in Europe. They have designed some innovative self service products which has increased business sales as well as enhancing customer experience.

They are fully aware of how the self service market is growing and think the ideas behind an interactive bank would work well if the self service was developed with the customer continually in mind.

Many banks who develop these gadgets and implement them into their stores need to recognise that customers don’t wish to be bombarded with adverts and simply to to the bank to get the job done in the shortest possible time.

If there is a problem they want to be able to resolve it properly either via a helpful assistant or a kiosk that can resolve the problem and give other options.

If self service is going to be the future it needs to be developed to fit into the future demands of customers who don’t like to be messed around, prefer less hassle and want it done as quick and as efficient as possible.