Mastercard launches ‘wave to pay’ biometric allowing customers to pay using the face or hand gesture in stores

Mastercard introduces an innovative and unique to pay in this era of robots and advanced automation. The American financial service company is piloting its Biometric Checkout Program that allows customers to pay just using their hands at the checkout.

The new Mastercard payment method has been described as similar to face recognition and fingerprint scanning technology. The company announced its biometric payment method on Tuesday, May 17.

Mastercard stated that it has developed this biometric payment to further improve the customers' checkout experience. With the new scheme, they do not have to use their phones for electronic payments or take out their wallets to pay. Even with their hands full of their purchases, the method makes it easier and more convenient to pay.

All that customers need to do is wave their hands or show their faces with a smile, and the system will process their payments at the checkout. The technology is reliable and can be trusted as per Mastercard, so it is safe to use in transactions.

"The way we pay needs to keep pace with the way we live, work and do business, offering choice to consumers with the highest levels of security," Mastercard's president of cyber and intelligence, Ajay Bhalla, said in a press release. "Our goal with this new program is to make shopping a great experience for consumers and merchants alike, providing the best of both security and convenience."

Eládio Isoppo, Payface's chief executive officer, went on to add, "We have been developing Payface since 2018, with a mission to help transform the way people pay - improving the experience, without compromising on security."

Payface said that its partnership with Mastercard is also a step for them to move forward and create more technology as well as enable their products to be utilized by both merchants and consumers.

Meanwhile, CNBC reported that Mastercard already rolled out the biometric payment program in five grocery stores in Sao Paulo, Brazil. After the trial, the company will introduce it worldwide this year.