IN the ongoing pursuit of locating a functional ATM, Deandrew Moore, a 25-year-old recent computer science graduate from The University of the West Indies (UWI), has emerged as a saviour with the ATMFinderJa app.

Freshly launched, this application seeks to reshape our interaction with the ATM landscape, introducing a wave of convenience and excitement to the process.

“I was on Twitter, and I usually just see people making different remarks about not finding ATMs. One day I really got annoyed when I couldn’t find a working ATM, and I was just like, alright, it’s time for me to build this,” shared the enthusiastic Moore, a professional mobile app developer.

Taking the challenge head-on, Moore shared with the Jamaica Observer that he crafted the app in just two weeks, with the first prototype ready within seven days.

“I missed a couple of parties and free weekends,” he joked, emphasising his dedication to perfecting the app day and night.

The second week witnessed a testing frenzy among Moore and his friends, teasing tweets about the app to gauge public reactions. The result was a resounding success, as the app made its official debut just before the new year in December. The ATMFinderJa app relies on users actively contributing reports, making it a community-driven initiative expected to evolve with increased adoption. To ensure the app’s accuracy, Moore invested US$30 in an ATI for Google Maps, providing existing data on the country’s ATMs and their coordinates. This data, he explained, forms the app’s foundation, skipping the laborious process of individually mapping each ATM. Upon download, the app uses GPS to reveal nearby ATMs and colour-code them based on banks.

“Once you click on an ATM pin, you will see the status — working, out of cash, not working,” listed Moore as he excitedly explained the user experience to the Sunday Finance. “It will tell you how long ago that report was submitted. Click on that preview card, and you will get another display with a direction icon to get directions to the ATMs.”

Acknowledging the challenge of users forgetting to contribute reports, Moore plans to set up reminders at ATMs, service stations, and supermarkets, enhancing the app’s reliability. To prevent misuse, he’s incorporated a proximity algorithm that allows updates within a certain radius. Despite its current lack of accessibility for visually impaired individuals, Moore is actively working on incorporating improvements in subsequent updates.

“I have a friend who is visually impaired, so in the coming weeks, I plan to make those adjustments and then test them with her so that we can be inclusive of everyone,” Moore humbly stated.

In terms of collaborations with financial institutions, Moore sees a win-win situation.

“Banks having data on the status of an ATM will increase their response time in servicing ATMs, directly helping their customers,” he stated.

He also expressed openness to collaborating with banks in exchange for valuable information, especially regarding ATMs that accept dual currency — a feature in high demand since the app’s launch.

Looking ahead, the ATMFinderJa app is set to introduce the “ATM busyness” feature over the next few weeks, providing users with real-time information on ATM traffic. Options to filter by banks or working ATMs and a safety rating feature for night-time usage are also on the horizon, promising an ongoing adventure in the world of ATMs.