So far, Panera has tested the fingerprint scanner in two locations. The company plans to roll out the technology in other locations across the country in the coming months.
Photos Justin Sullivan/Getty
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Photos Justin Sullivan/Getty
So far, Panera has tested the fingerprint scanner in two locations. The company plans to roll out the technology in other locations across the country in the coming months.
Photos Justin Sullivan/Getty
This palm-reading machine won’t be able to guess your luck, but it will figure out if you’re part of Panera’s loyalty program.
Over the next few months, the bakery-café chain will roll out scanners that can access credit cards and loyalty accounts with the palm of their hand. The biometric collection technology, developed by Amazon and known as Amazon One, is already ubiquitous in airports, stadiums and Whole Foods Market grocery stores. Panera is expected to become the first national restaurant company to use it.
Panera Bread CEO Niren Chaudhary said in a press release last week that the contactless payment method is intended to serve as a convenience. But there are growing concerns about palm recognition technology.
In 2021, a group of US senators questioned Amazon’s data collection practices and specifically whether biometric data was being used for tracking and advertising purposes. .
“In contrast to biometric systems like Apple’s Face ID and Touch ID or Samsung Pass that store biometric information on a user’s device, Amazon One is supposed to upload biometric information to the cloud, raises particular security risks,” the senators said. letters Amazon CEO Andy Jassy said.
Earlier this month, a New York City-based shopper filed an application lawsuit against Amazon claims that the company failed to properly notify customers in Amazon Go stores that their biometric information was being collected.
Panera says that the palm scanner is optional for customers and that the company itself does not store personal palm data. The food chain also emphasizes that any private and personal data shared with Amazon One will never be stored on the device.
Customers who opt in will also be able to pay by hand scanning
Here’s how it’ll work: After a brief palm scan, Panera customers can be greeted by name and receive tailored meal recommendations based on their preferences and previous orders. They will also be able to pay by scanning their palm. According to the company, guests can link their credit card to an Amazon One ID in “one minute”.
“Our philosophy is centered around leveraging best-in-class technology to create a better Panera experience,” said Panera CEO Chaudhary.
Panera has not specified which locations will include these devices, but they have been tested at several restaurants in St. Louis, Mo., where the chain’s headquarters are located. Panera’s loyalty program includes approximately 52 million members.
