There may not be much to smile about with inflation hitting a 40-year-high, but customers could be able to pay for their grocery shopping by smiling at a camera as facial recognition technology is rolled out to supermarket checkouts.
Mastercard is trialling a biometric payment system that could see customers just use their face rather than contactless cards, smartphones or PINs. Shoppers would be able to smile or wave a hand at a scanner to pay for their shopping.
It is understood that a customer would be able to scan their face or fingerprint using a supermarket's smartphone app and link their likeness to a bank card. Payments Card and Mobile website says it would work in a similar way to Apple's facial ID.
The Telegraph reports how Mastercard, the payments company, wants to roll the programme out worldwide for small and large retailers.
Ajay Bhalla, the president of cyber and intelligence at Mastercard, was quoted in the Telegraph as saying: “The way we pay needs to keep pace with the way we live, work and do business, offering choice to consumers with the highest levels of security.
“Our goal with this new programme is to make shopping a great experience for consumers and merchants alike, providing the best of both security and convenience.”
A pilot programme is currently under way in Brazil at five St Marche supermarkets in Sao Paolo. More trials are also planned for Asia and the Middle East. The biometric facial recognition software would lead to shorter queues, be more hygienic than tapping in a pin, and less vulnerable to fraud linked to credit and debit cards, Mastercard said.
It said: “No more fumbling for your phone or hunting for your wallet when you have your hands full – the next generation of in-person payments will only need a quick smile or wave of your hand.
“The trusted technology that uses your face or fingerprint to unlock your phone can now be used to help consumers speed through the checkout. With Mastercard’s new Biometric Checkout Programme, all you will need is yourself.”
