Biometrics allows Star Markets customers to pay with their finger, the grocery store said Friday.
Alabama residents can pay for their groceries at Star Supermarkets, Star Pharmacies, Propst Drug and Hunnington Pharmacy using BioPay technology from Pay By Touch.
"The service debits the consumer's checking account without them writing a check or using an ATM card," said Jon Siegal, executive vice president at Pay By Touch. "The transaction is more secure because they're not showing a number that can be copies or stolen."
Pay By Touch also verifies the consumer's age if they are buying an alcoholic beverage or cigarettes.
Star Supermarkets chose to implement BioPay to give their check writing, credit and debit card customers a faster checkout and greater convenience when making a purchase. The service is the first biometric payment offering in Alabama. BioPay was recently acquired by Pay By Touch, a biometric services, software and hardware vendor.
Pay By Touch said more than two million customers have enrolled in the biometrics service, and has authenticated approximately $8 billion in transactions. The company holds 31 U.S.-issued patents for biometric transactions, including age verification, loyalty cards and check-cashing, with more than 70 patents pending.
In late January, Pay By Touch closed more than $60 million in new financing through its sale of Series C Preferred Shares. Funds secured in the past three years exceed $190 million.
Siegal said the retail market has caught on quickly in the past year. Biometric payment services and test programs are underway at Albertson's, SUPERVALU, Piggly Wiggly, Lowes Foods and Quiznos, with check cashing implementations in retailers Bi-Lo, Marsh Supermarkets, Raley’s, and with Pay By Touch-managed opt-in shopper rewards programs at retailers such as Food Lyon, Sally’s Beauty, United Parcel Service, and Winn Dixie.
IBM Corp. hosts Pay By Touch's customer database.
Pay By Touch also is working on a service where by retailers can offer discounts based on the products consumers purchase most. The platform identifies the products the customer buys most. Frequent-buyer loyalty coupons are deposited automatically in the consumer's Pay By Touch account and are redeemed at the time of purchase.
