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Prime time for palm vein identification

Ingenico and Fujitsu Frontech North America, through its subsidiary Fulcrum Biometrics, have unveiled the world’s most secure, accurate and seamless biometric payment solution based on palm vein identification. This innovation enables merchants to speed up checkout, minimise the risks of fraud, and streamline the customer experience.

The solution enables contactless payments, reduces queues, and transforms in-store commerce. Designed on Ingenico’s AXIUM range, its Android payment terminals, the solution allows consumers to identify themselves and authenticate their payments simply by moving the palm of a hand over a near infrared (NIR) sensor. There is no need to take out a credit card or enter a PIN, making your hand the only payment method necessary.

As every person has a unique pattern of veins in the palm of their hand, palm vein identification is one of the most accurate biometric identification technologies in the world. It is less intrusive and more secure than alternatives such as fingerprints and facial recognition, and it is easier to implement and operate. The convenient, contactless, and hygienic technology has the potential to accelerate the share of cashless and digital transactions in markets worldwide. It can also offer additional security levels for organisations requesting strong identification solutions.

The solution combines Ingenico’s understanding of the business needs of merchants and its expertise in payment technology with Fujitsu’s identification algorithm for analysing and matching biometric data. It uses Fujitsu’s PalmSecure technology and incorporates biometric identification solutions developed by Fulcrum Biometrics.

To enrol consumers in the service, merchants first take a near infrared (NIR) scan of a customer’s palm using a device designed by Ingenico that incorporates the Fujitsu PalmSecure-F Pro sensor and software. This image is encrypted, tokenised, and linked to the customer’s payment card in Ingenico’s secure cloud environment. In contrast to facial recognition and fingerprints, it is not possible for hackers to take close-up pictures of internal palm vein structures to make fraudulent transactions. The unique patterns under the skin are virtually impossible for fraudsters to replicate.

Michel Léger, senior executive vice-president, Global Solutions Development at Ingenico, commented, “Palm vein biometrics is the most secure method for identifying customers and authenticating payments. Palm vein identification is a much faster way of making payments than traditional chip-and-PIN and offers several tangible advantages, with none of the security risks of other biometric methods.”

“We are seeing a lot of interest from merchants in the solution that we have developed with Fujitsu Frontech North America and Fulcrum Biometrics. Palm vein identification gives them new opportunities to authenticate and identify their customers in the most seamless way possible, personalise their offers and create unrivalled experiences in-store. This partnership is set to transform and revolutionise payment experiences for consumers.”

Ken Nosker, CEO of Fulcrum Biometrics and Fujitsu Frontech North America VP of Biometrics commented, “The world is embracing biometrics. Palm vein identification is the most private and secure technology in the market and gives consumers the contactless, hygienic, and frictionless payment solution that they are demanding. Our retail customers are lining up to pilot the technology. Combining Fujitsu Frontech North America’s experience in biometric hardware and identification with Ingenico’s global scale and payments expertise, our solution will be a game changer for merchants around the world.”

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