Shoppers to be able to pay by just using their face for the first time

Shoppers to be able to pay by just using their face for the first time Online bank Revolut has unveiled new technology called Revolut Pay with Smile option, which allow customers to use just their face to pay for goods in store Shoppers will be able to pay using their face in stores for the first time after the roll-out of new technology. Online bank Revolut has unveiled what it says is the UK’s first facial recognition checkout. Its Revolut Pay with Smile option works by using the selfie customers are required to take when verifying their identity when they first opened their account. All they then need to do is look at a special gadget in stores which scans their face to ensure it matches. They don’t even need their phone with them for it to work. It works via a till-side Revolut Register which shops and other businesses have to buy, but that offer 0% processing fees for merchants. While Revolut is the first in Europe to introduce the technology, other banks could follow suit, meaning pay-by-face could become commonplace in the years to come. The company has linked up with cafe chain Kiss the Hippo in London until Saturday this week. Other companies can begin signing-up, with the full launch expected later this year. Alex Codina, general manager of merchant payments at Revolut Business, said “With over half of Brits reporting delays or failures due to merchants dropping internet signals, checkout friction is driving customers out the door. To solve this, we’re deploying Revolut’s full technological ecosystem to reinvent the mechanics of the hospitality industry and give consumers the payments experience they deserve. “By combining high-performance processing with facial recognition technology, we’re replacing outdated, fragmented tills with a hyper-efficient checkout experience designed to solve consumer and merchant pain points.” Alex Damgaci, managing director at Kiss the Hippo Coffee, said: “In hospitality, a seamless checkout is no longer a luxury, it’s the bare minimum. Technology that takes the friction out of the payment process and offers payment flexibility gives operators the reliability they need to protect revenue and maintain guest satisfaction.” Revolut said there was no blanket cap on the spending limit using the feature. A spokeswoman said it was a "risk-based approach."