Some 63 per cent of consumers want to be able to use a biometric scan to authorise their payments in-store, a new report from Worldpay has found.

Finger biometrics proved the most popular method, with 69 per cent of consumers stating that they would be open to using it to verify their identity in-store, following by iris (33 per cent), face (24 per cent) and voice (18 per cent).

The survey also found that 76 per cent of consumers would abandon a purchase if a store tried to charge for Click and Collect, while 65 per cent of consumers said that they would rather pay a machine than waste time flagging down a waiter in a restaurant.

Technologies like mobile point of sale devices, which help cut queues by allowing sales staff to take payments on the shop floor from a tablet device, are popular among consumers. But just one in three have seen these devices being used in-store.

James Frost, UK CMO at Worldpay, said: “Today’s digitally-driven consumers want the way they shop to be consistent across every channel, including how they identify themselves when making a payment.

“As biometric identification increasingly becomes a standard across smartphone devices, the combination of these two technologies is starting to win the battle for hearts and minds when it comes to simplicity, convenience, and seamlessness across all channels.

“Stores need to find a way to reconnect with consumers. That means deploying technologies which remove bottle-necks, particularly at the point of sale, and freeing staff to get out from behind the till and talk to customers on the shop floor. Retailers that will flourish will be those that strike a balance between personalised service, and seamless convenience.”

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