Global Biometric Pilots Help Smooth the Way for U.S. Adoption

The use of biometrics in merchant payments—such as facial scans and palm scans—has been slow to take root in the United States. But several pilot programs in other global markets, featuring the participation of companies active in the United States, could hold lessons for the eventual maturation of the industry here. 

These global trials, however, are on a very small scale, and information about their efficacy can be scarce. Some of the details that have emerged suggest that consumers are eager to put these technologies to use, and that aligns with what Javelin Strategy & Research surveys have shown. This report digs into what’s known about these trials, what lessons can be gleaned from them, and why the U.S. market will continue to be slower to adopt biometric authentication and identification.

Key questions discussed in this report: 

• What are the most notable biometric payment trials around the world?
• What lessons do those trials hold as biometric authentication in payments takes greater root?
• Why does the U.S. market lag behind other global markets in biometric trials? 

Companies Mentioned: 

Amazon, JP Morgan Payments, Mastercard, NEC, PopID, Verifone, Visa