Pick 'n Save Metro Market Gets the Finger From Shoppers
MILWAUKEE – No, consumers are not flipping Pick 'n Save the bird -- they're paying for goods by using biometric technology that went live today in a one-store pilot test of the technology, provided by San Francisco-based Pay By Touch.
Retailer/wholesaler Roundy's is running the pilot at Pick 'n Save to test customer acceptance before deciding whether to roll it out companywide. "The primary motivators behind the pilot are speed, convenience, and security," John Boyle, group v.p. and c.i.o., business process for Roundy's, said in an interview with Progressive Grocer. "We expect it to help customers make through it checkout more quickly, to provide added convenience, and to be a safer way to shop."
Boyle added that he would using information from the pilot –- such as demographic information of shoppers using the technology and the types and numbers of products they purchase -– to determine which stores would be good candidates for future implementations. "If we get an overwhelmingly positive response, we can easily implement the technology in other locations," said Boyle. "It's very simple to install."
Pay By Touch is a free service for consumers that allows them pay for purchases using a finger scan to access their financial accounts and loyalty programs. It eliminates the need to present checks and IDs, credit, debit, membership, or loyalty cards at the point of sale.
This is the second test of biometric technology at Roundy's. The first, which began last month, was a six-store pilot of a time and attendance solution by Chelmsford, Mass.-based Kronos, which Roundy's has decided to roll out to all 127 stores by year's end.
--Joseph Tarnowski
Retailer/wholesaler Roundy's is running the pilot at Pick 'n Save to test customer acceptance before deciding whether to roll it out companywide. "The primary motivators behind the pilot are speed, convenience, and security," John Boyle, group v.p. and c.i.o., business process for Roundy's, said in an interview with Progressive Grocer. "We expect it to help customers make through it checkout more quickly, to provide added convenience, and to be a safer way to shop."
Boyle added that he would using information from the pilot –- such as demographic information of shoppers using the technology and the types and numbers of products they purchase -– to determine which stores would be good candidates for future implementations. "If we get an overwhelmingly positive response, we can easily implement the technology in other locations," said Boyle. "It's very simple to install."
Pay By Touch is a free service for consumers that allows them pay for purchases using a finger scan to access their financial accounts and loyalty programs. It eliminates the need to present checks and IDs, credit, debit, membership, or loyalty cards at the point of sale.
This is the second test of biometric technology at Roundy's. The first, which began last month, was a six-store pilot of a time and attendance solution by Chelmsford, Mass.-based Kronos, which Roundy's has decided to roll out to all 127 stores by year's end.
--Joseph Tarnowski