Biometric payment tools deployed by PayByFace, Wee Digital, PayEye, and Fujitsu

The pandemic has seen a proliferation of contactless biometric payment systems, designed to limit physical contact between merchants and customers, and thus reduce the spread of the virus.

The year may be nearing its end, but before 2020 wraps up, there are several companies that are releasing facial and iris recognition-powered payment tools around the world.

PayByFace expands offering in Romania

PayByFace announced it is expanding its biometric offering to over 65 partner store locations in the country by the end of the year.

Validated by the National Bank of Romania and other commercial partners, PayByFace’s platform has recently been enhanced with the integration of Euplatesc, a Romanian online card payment processing company.

The company’s technology is already used by Tucano Coffee and Creamier shops, as well as a few pharmacies in Bucharest.

In December, PayByFace will expand its offering to include Geta Voinea’s hair salon services and Optical Ofta Civique shops.

According to the company, PayByFace’s goal for 2020 is to reach a total of 67 signed merchants in Romania by the end of the year.

Wee Digital release facepay app in Vietnam

Cashless payment solutions firm Wee Digital is developing a new facial recognition payment tool for deployment in Vietnam, intellasia reports.

After the solution’s national unrolling, citizens will be able to download the facepay app, register personal information, scan their face with a mobile phone for biometric matching and link the data to a bank card.

This would then allow them to pay just by using facial recognition scanning systems located in specific shops.

Wee Digital clarified the system will be also available for people willing to complete online purchases. In this case, customers will be able to pay using their computer’s webcams to scan facial images.

The verification of all transactions will be done by the National Payment Company of Vietnam (NAPAS), and Wee Digital hopes to effectively deploy the new system countrywide in the first part of 2021.

PayEye create iris recognition system for cashless payments

Wrocław-based start-up PayEye has released a new iris biometric scanning system to facilitate cashless transactions in Poland, TVP3 Wrocław reports.

The system works by converting the scanned image of the iris into a unique code that is then used to authorize payments.

The new system will allow customers to pay in shops, restaurants, and service points via dedicated terminals.

All transactions made using the new eye-scanning system will be verified by the Polish Financial Supervision Authority.

The system is already available at over 60 locations in Wrocław and nearby towns. Affiliated shops exhibit a sticker with PayEye’s logo on the door to indicate to customers they accept this form of payment.

Moscow Metro trials facial recognition payments

The Moscow Metro is planning to roll out a facial recognition-based fare payment system, ICT Moscow reports.

The new system, which is reportedly being tested on employees from two unnamed Russian banks, should undergo an official rollout starting next spring.

“Our system will allow face recognition, and if you are connected to a bank card with your biometric data, then you will pass with an open turnstile,” Maksim Liksutov, Deputy Mayor of Moscow, told ICT Moscow.

In the same interview, Liksutov also mentioned how he would like the system to be potentially opened up for other applications, including for operators, carriers, and transport companies.

“A single application will allow them not only to promote their services to a larger audience but also create an equal competitive environment between market participants because users themselves will decide which one to choose,” Liksutov said.

“Participation in a single urban system is a sign of quality, reliability, and compliance with high standards. At the same time, we will not oblige the company to participate.”

Fujitsu partners with Zippin on ‘Checkout-Free’ payments in Japan

Fujitsu has signed a deal with Zippin to be the exclusive distributor of the company’s checkout-free solution in Japan, CStoreDecisions reports.

Zippin’s technology works through a combination of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and sensor fusion technology.

After a trial conducted in a Lawson convenience store chain in Japan earlier this year in collaboration with NEC, Fujitsu will now leverage Zippin’s checkout-free platform to provide Japanese shoppers with cashier-free, cashless operations.

According to the company, the new solutions will both save staff time and will enable social distancing measures necessary to tackle the pandemic emergency.

In the future, the new platform’s features may include identity verification with multi-biometric authentication.

Alessandro Mascellino - biometricupdate.com