Biometrics.

Discover how biometric payments remove the need for passwords and PINs.

Illustration Biometric

Biometrics are the natural, hands-free way to pay, offering strong authentication and frictionless payment. 

The Android-based terminal recognises Emilie’s face biometry and displays her loyalty account with the shop and the loyalty points from her purchase today. For added security, and consent to the purchase, Emilie shows the terminal her hand. Shopping and loyalty schemes have never been quicker or more simple!

Thanks to voice biometry recognition, Emilie’s payment is validated and so she can park at the petrol station and directly start filling up. In car payment (experience) beats paying with cash or a card every time! 

Once they are enrolled for biometric payments on public transport, Emilie and Jack just need to show their palm to “palm on” and “palm off” the tram, and the fairest price is automatically paid. Frictionless payment literally in the palm of your hand.

Emilie is paying the bill with her next generation payment card at a restaurant she is trying out for the first time. The fingerprint authentication feature on her card allows her to pay any amount using contactless with no need for a PIN, making it easy to use for people who are visually impaired and anyone who wants a simple, natural and secure way to pay. See you again soon Café de Flore!

Fact or fiction?

It’s been a while since biometrics, such as using your finger or facial print to unlock your smartphone, made their entrance. However, the use of biometrics as a secure and easy way to complete the payment authentication process at a point of sales (POS) has not convinced everyone yet.

The technology is there, but the uptake is still in its early stages and evolving at a different pace worldwide. For instance:

  • Palm biometry is unknown in Europe
  • Facial biometry raises questions about privacy in Europe but has become the new norm in China
  • Voice biometry is widely known and since the quality level took a leap in 2021, people are progressively starting to use it.

Biometric payments has a future potential ahead of it because it’s natural, secure and frictionless. All depends on the willingness of people to make use of this technology!

Business maturity meter

Biometrics in the timeline