Panasonic Enters Biometric Payments Arena with Family Mart’s ‘Face Pass’

Family Mart, a leading convenience store chain in Japan, has begun testing Panasonic’s “Face Pass” facial recognition technology at its Saedo store in Yokohama.

The Face Pass system was developed through a collaboration between Family Mart and Panasonic, with the aim of addressing labor shortages in convenience stores by enabling cashier-less transactions. Pre-registered customers gain access to the store after submitting to a scan of their faces. They are then able to select products, and complete cashless payments using the same facial recognition system.

The Yokohama store was equipped with over 80 cameras and sensors that monitor customer movements and collect data on product sales, store congestion, and inventory levels. This information is transmitted to an employee’s computer terminal, facilitating real-time decision-making and operational efficiency. The collected data is also analyzed for marketing purposes to optimize sales strategies and improve customer experience.

 “When it comes to tackling this issue, it’s now or never,” said Family Mart president, Takashi Sawada. “We plan to test this new technology across our stores as soon as possible.”

The move reflects a broader trend among Japanese convenience stores to adopt biometric technologies to mitigate staffing challenges amid labor shortages. Family Mart competitor 7-Eleven Japan announced a partnership with Veritrans Inc. and NEC Corporation on a cashless payment trial in 2020.

That initiative, conducted at a 7-Eleven store in Tokyo, integrated NEC’s facial recognition platform with VeriTrans’ credit card payment service to allow customers to register by submitting personal information, including a photo and credit card details, which are then used for two-factor authentication during transactions.

Source: Japan Forward

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September 24, 2024 – by Tony Bitzionis