ALVARA Blog

Cash-in-transit service providers face various challenges: regulatory requirements are increasing, artificial intelligence and e-mobility are becoming equally important, and cost pressure continues to rise. What is needed are solutions that ensure efficiency, transparency and security while also meeting evolving customer expectations in cash management. For the ZIEMANN GROUP, this means questioning established practices and moving forward with persistence and innovative strength. In this interview with Hans-Jörg Hisam and Heinz Spiegelmacher, we take a look at the year 2026 – which trends are emerging for the industry, what role technologies will play, and how the company is positioning itself strategically.

Trust is good, control is better: this applies especially to cash processes in retail. Wherever large volumes of coins and banknotes are moved, processed, and recorded every day, those responsible must not leave security to chance. With increasing digitalization, new points of attack for criminals are emerging. Therefore, when choosing software, the criterion of “pentests” should always play a role.

Cash has been a hot topic of discussion in recent years. Is it still up to date? Does it have a realistic long-term future? What the next few years will bring is pure speculation. But one thing is certain: here and now, cash remains one of the most important means of payment—especially for the retail sector. That’s why retailers are increasingly urged to explore solutions that make cash management secure, efficient, and transparent. In the podcast Future of Retail, our Managing Director Steven Schwarznau joined host Frank Rehme in the Smart Cash Talk to discuss innovations and insights from the world of cash. Here’s a summary.

“We do not accept cash!” — this statement has become increasingly common in restaurants, cafés, retail stores, and hotels. However, Geneva is now putting a stop to this trend: cash payments must continue to be accepted.

SKO Dienstleistungs GmbH was founded in 2006 as a subsidiary of a savings bank. Initially, it acted solely as a transport company for the savings bank, handling all cash management processes on its behalf. However, it did not stop at providing services for its own savings bank. SKO also offered these services to other financial institutions in the Osnabrück region. Its good reputation for high-quality service quickly spread beyond the region. In order to meet the increased demand, a new cash center was opened in Rastede in 2023.

Digitalization is far from a new topic. However, in recent months, the speed of digital transformation has significantly accelerated – driven primarily by artificial intelligence. This increases the pressure on financial institutions to catch up as quickly as possible, boost productivity, and strengthen their capacity for innovation. Many organizations are therefore focusing on large-scale AI projects, while smaller, equally important and long-overdue digitalization steps are being neglected. Because before new technologies can reach their full potential, the foundations must be in place.

Between Shortage and Surplus: Every day, branches must strike a balance between having too much or too little cash in their registers. What sounds simple is actually a challenge – especially when manual processes dominate cash counting or reconciliation. Yet even a small step toward digitization in the safe and back-office process can result in significant efficiency gains: the digital documentation of change receipt.

For many years, we at ALVARA have been involved in social and sporting projects in the Leipzig region. We were also immediately impressed by the Bürgerstiftung Leipzig's educational programme ‘Die Wunderfinder’ (The Wonder Finders).

Whether at the branch or headquarters – automation, intuitive operation, and centralized evaluations are key to efficient and successful cash processes today. Yet in practice, the potential in storing and managing physical payment methods such as cash or vouchers often remains untapped. One reason is the lack of awareness about what’s actually possible. After all, with digital support, the vault can become much more than just a secure storage location.

Efficient cash logistics are essential for cash-in-transit (CIT) providers to ensure smooth operations for their clients. However, long stop times, manual data entry, or paper-based receipts still hinder processes in many places. With logistics apps tailored to the industry's needs, these obstacles can be overcome: workflows are digitalized, media disruptions eliminated, and handovers automated – enabling maximum efficiency in daily operations.