Fujitsu palm and face biometrics launched for retail customer authentication at Yokohama hotel

A partnership between Zippin and Fujitsu has resulted in the opening of a contactless hotel store using biometric technology within the Yokohama Techno Tower Hotel.

According to a Zippin announcement, the hotel retail format store was opened as a pilot early this year through Fujitsu’s partnership with Koyo Group. The biometric technology was trialed at a convenience store in Fujitsu Technology Square in January.

The new deployment is the first hotel convenience store which uses biometric authentication to verify the identities of customers that is open to the general public in Japan, the statement adds.

With the system, the hotel store operators are keeping both customers and workers safe from pandemic contagion as the cashierless checkout prevents physical contacts, saves up time and reduces the stress of having to stand on queues for long periods.

The system is expected to reach full operation by April, and its operators say results are positive so far, especially regarding the limited amount of time shoppers spend in the store.

Customers access the store via a smartphone application, and must register their credit card information, and then enter the store with the QR code displayed on the Green Leaves + app. They can also use the multi-modal biometric authentication technology that links their palm vein and facial recognition information with the smartphone application, the company notes.

“Zippin is excited to work with Fujitsu to power the checkout-free technology for this new Koyo hotel store. We believe that there is big growth potential for checkout-free retail in Japan. The Green Leaves + store at Yokohama Techno Tower Hotel is helping to lead the way to a better retail experience at hotels, hospitals, and other places where people need convenient access to food and drinks,” said Krishna Motukuri, Zippin Co-Founder and CEO.

Koyo is said to be also looking at the possibility of introducing the checkout-free technology model at some of the hospitals it has presence in, as those are settings where people need access to food 24 hours a day. It is also part of Koyo’s multi-phase expansion plans which seek to open up convenience stores in hospitals.

Article Topics

authentication  |  biometrics  |  contactless biometrics  |  facial recognition  |  Fujitsu  |  identity verification  |  Japan  |  palm biometrics  |  palm recognition  |  palm vein  |  retail biometrics