Amazon introduces a palm scan payment to Whole Foods stores

According to Amazon’s announcement, the company is expanding its palm scan payment system to a Whole Foods store in Seattle.

In September, Amazon announced the launch of Amazon One, a new contactless payment, and authentication system. It allows customers to pay for items by placing the palm of their hand on a scanning device.

Amazon One applies real-time computer vision technology and will allow registration of one or both palms. Upon registration of users, they will have to insert a credit card in the kiosk, which will be at the store’s entrance, and link it to their palm print. After that, they can pay simply by placing their hands over the kiosk for a second or so. 

Amazon One sets itself apart from the company’s Just Walk Out technology. The latter allows shoppers to pick up items and leave the store without going through a checkout line. However, the two technologies can work together, and Amazon uses them in its cashier-less Amazon Go stores.

Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood, where the first Amazon One is rolled out, is not far from the company’s headquarters. In the coming months, all seven Seattle-area Whole Foods stores will be able to use this technology.

The company is negotiating with potential customers

The palm scan technology will be one of many payment options at Whole Foods stores. According to the company, the innovation will not affect the job responsibilities of store employees.

Amazon acquired the supermarket chain in 2017 for more than $13 billion.

Amazon has said it hopes to sell the palm scanning technology to other companies such as retailers, stadiums, and office buildings. Last September, the company stated it was in active discussions with various potential customers.

It is not clear whether Amazon has signed any agreements with third parties interested in using the system. According to the company, thousands of people have signed up to use it at Amazon stores.

Is it safe?

On the flip side, privacy and security experts have also raised concerns about the dangers of buyers handing over biometric data to businesses.

Amazon has asserted that it designed the system to be highly secure. The company considers palm-scanning technology more private than other biometric alternatives since you cannot determine a person’s identity by looking at an image of their palm. Furthermore, it requires someone to make an intentional gesture by holding the palm over the device.