Amazon announced on Thursday that all Whole Foods Market locations will begin using its “palm recognition technology” as a means of payment — the online retail behemoth acquired Whole Foods in 2017 for $13.7 billion.
There are reportedly more than 200 stores where customers can pay by simply waving their hand over a special scanner, and the remaining stores are expected to have the technology in place by the end of the year.
“As Amazon One—Amazon Web Services’s palm recognition service for identification, payment, loyalty membership, and entry at over 400 locations across the U.S.—reaches a critical milestone with more than 3 million uses, Whole Foods Market stores are going all in,” Amazon said in a blog post. “By the end of this year, all 500+ Whole Foods Market locations in the U.S. will offer Amazon One for payment and Prime membership benefits.
“This means Whole Foods Market customers who choose to use Amazon One will no longer need their wallet or even a phone to pay—they can simply hover their palm over an Amazon One device. For Prime members who link their Amazon One profile with their Amazon account, savings will automatically be applied. It’s that simple.”
Whole Foods Market Chief Technology Officer Leandro Balbinot said customers “love” the palm recognition technology.
“Since we’ve introduced Amazon One at Whole Foods Market stores over the past two years, we’ve seen that customers love the convenience it provides, and we’re excited to bring Amazon One to all of our customers across the U.S.,” Balbinot said in the blog post.
Other locations using the technology have generated more than 3 million uses, which Amazon called a “critical milestone.” Airport stores, sports venues, and other locations, including certain Panera Bread restaurants, currently offer the unique option.
Another feature provided involves alcohol purchases.
“At Coors Field, home of the Colorado Rockies MLB team, Aramark Sports + Entertainment is taking advantage of Amazon One’s ‘age verification’ capability. This feature allows adult customers ages 21 and over to purchase alcoholic beverages by simply scanning their palm at an Amazon One device without looking for their government-issued IDs,” Amazon said.
The company said it “will never share palm data with third parties, under any circumstances, including in response to government demands, unless we’re required to comply with a legally valid and binding order,” Fox Business reported. The company said it will also not use or sell the data, which utilizes the AWS Cloud, for marketing purposes.
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
Tom Tillison grew up in Maryland before moving to Central Florida as a young teen. It is in the Sunshine State that he honed both his passion for politics and his writing skills. Tillison also contributes to BizPac Review.
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.