FPC Emphasizes Contactless Tech in Breakdown of Latest Biometric Trends

Fingerprint Cards is highlighting a few of the key biometrics trends that have emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some of those trends were already underway before the virus, while others are a more direct response to the new public health environment.

In that regard, the most noteworthy trend may be the renewed emphasis on biometric payment cards. Many biometric cards were headed towards commercialization before the onset of COVID-19, but the virus has accelerated that process because it has made people more aware of the safety benefits of contactless technology. Biometric cards will allow retailers and financial institutions to lift the payment caps for contactless transactions, which will in turn limit the number of times that people need to interact with a PIN pad or another shared device.

FPC has been at the forefront of that particular movement. The company recently teamed up with STMicroelectronics to develop a new System-on-Card platform, and noted that BNP Paribas is already moving forward with plans to launch its first biometric card later in the year.

Of course, the interest in contactless tech goes well beyond biometric cards. FPC called particular attention to access control, implying that organizations will increasingly opt for contactless security options like face and iris recognition even after COVID-19 has passed.

FPC also argued that biometric authentication has been integral to the current remote working environment. Many employees who need to gain access to sensitive work materials now have a login option that is safer and more convenient than traditional passwords. As a result, FPC believes that remote working arrangements will become more common moving forward.

FPC’s fingerprint technology has appeared in several IoT devices and access control products in the past few months, including a new HP Chromebook and a new biometric door lock from Kaadas that is geared towards the Chinese market.

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July 15, 2020 – by Eric Weiss