When ATMs First Came Out, They Provided a Significant Competitive

question 24

Essay

When ATMs first came out, they provided a significant competitive advantage because they helped banks to differentiate themselves from others. Today, almost all banks provide access to these, so it is considered to be a standard service. How could you reengineer a bank's ATM system in order to gain competitive advantage today?

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Definitions:

Unit Sales

The measure of the quantity of individual items sold by a company, as opposed to total revenue.

Break-Even

The point at which total costs and total revenues are equal, resulting in no net gain or loss.

Fixed Expense

Costs that do not fluctuate with changes in production level or sales volume, such as rent, salaries, and insurance premiums.

Variable Expense

Expenses that vary directly with changes in production volume or business activity levels.