Albertsons introduces Pay By Touch payment systems
Expansion follows successful pilot programme in Oregon market
Albertson’s announced today that it is implementing Pay By Touch biometric payment systems in its Jewel-Osco stores throughout the Midwest. The rollout, which began in the Chicago area early this year and is expected to be completed in all 204 Jewel-Osco stores this month, follows a successful year-long test of the technology at Albertsons stores in the Portland, Oregon area. In the pilot programme, a significant number of customers utilised the Pay By Touch option.
Albertsons customers who used the technology in the company’s Portland-area pilot programme reported that they were convinced it is a faster, easier and more secure way to pay for their groceries. The Jewel-Osco launch of Pay By Touch represents the largest market-wide launch of any retailer that has adopted the leading-edge technology.
“At Albertsons we are committed to helping make our customers’ lives easier,” said Pam Powell, Albertsons senior vice president of customer service. “With this technology, customers can pay for their groceries with the touch of a finger without having to present cards, cheques or cash, reduce their risk of theft and move through the checkout lines more easily and significantly faster.”
“Pay By Touch is changing the way we pay for things today – and in the years to come,” said John Rogers, founder, chairman and CEO of Pay By Touch. “Paying by touch gives shoppers the ultimate freedom from cards, cheques or cash that can be lost or stolen.”
The Pay By Touch system, which is a free service for Jewel-Osco customers, uses a simple finger scan to authorise an electronic transaction from a customer’s existing bank account while automatically honouring the Jewel-Osco Preferred Card. A one-time enrolment in the highly secure programme takes only a few minutes to complete at Jewel-Osco stores. Customers may choose to link both their bank account and their Jewel-Osco Preferred Card to the Pay By Touch system.
