Innovation of the Week: Carrefour trials palm payments in store

What is it?

French grocery giant Carrefour has become the first European retailer to trial palm payments as it tests the technology in a Carrefour Market store in central Paris. 

The trial launches on July 29, according to Le Figaro newspaper, at a store in the sixth arrondissement near to Île de la Cité and is timed to coincide with increased footfall for the Olympics.

Carrefour is teaming up with tech provider Ingenico to install the palm scanners alongside its payment terminals, allowing customers that have registered and scanned their palms to check out with a wave of the hand.

Why does it matter?

Palm payments are biometric and unique, secured by using cameras to capture surface-area details such as lines and ridges as well as subcutaneous features such as vein patterns on the hand.

The lead on palm payments to date has been established by Amazon, with its Amazon One palm payment system, which is already in use at more than 400 Amazon and Whole Foods Market locations in the US, as well as partner locations at airports and stadiums. WeChat Palm Pay is also already established in China.

This trial will provide Carrefour with valuable insights from shoppers on whether the payment terminals ease friction and elevate the customer experience. If successful, the terminals might be rolled out to more stores.

Strategic implications

As customers seek greater convenience, palm payments may become part of the future of convenience retail, particularly in high-traffic locations such as stations, airports and stadiums.

Winning strategies

• Focus on innovation