Fingertip Biometric Payment Pilot Begins In Netherlands

For a period of six months, customers of Albert Heijn will be able to pay for their shopping using their fingertips. The objective of the pilot is to investigate the potential of this technology as a new payment method and establish whether it is received positively by consumers. This is the first pilot of its kind in the Netherlands. It will last six months, after which an evaluation will take place.

Tip2Pay enables consumers to pay quickly and securely by placing their fingertip on the reader at the checkout. After they have provided proof of identification and a debit card, a scan will be made of the unique parts of their fingertip. Their name and address details, bank account number and - if required - their customer loyalty card will be registered in accordance with Netherlands privacy laws. Equens will process all fingertip payments.

This pilot is in line with the innovation policy of both Equens and Albert Heijn. Equens General Manager for New Business, Dave Rietveld: "Recent developments in technology facilitate new and improved payment methods. Equens therefore operates an innovative policy geared towards the development of new payment products based on market requirements." In addition to this pilot, Equens is currently also developing solutions such as mobile payments and electronic invoicing or 'e-invoicing'. Albert Heijn is currently also testing a variety of innovative payment methods at local level. These include mobile payments, mobile scanning and contactless payments. Albert Heijn Innovation Manager, Jan de Heij: "We regularly test new payment concepts among our customers. We only continue their development if they are received with enthusiasm."

Albert Heijn and Equens will be conducting the pilot in consultation with IT-Werke, a company that specialises in integrating biometric technology in retail and consumer applications. The IT-Werke system has already been successfully tested at the German supermarket chain Edeka, which now offers fingertip payment services at 120 of its stores.