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Building on the technology of biometric payment cards


By Lina Andolf-Orup, Senior Director, Fingerprints B


iometric payment cards have ticked several important boxes in the last year. Te technology has achieved certification from major payment


networks, costs have reduced and manufacturing has become simpler; now, we also have the first commercial launches being rolled out. But as more banks move to offer


this technology to their customers, it is important to consider design. Te look and feel of any new technology are central to its success among consumers, but it can be commonly overlooked or it is an aſterthought. In fact, when asked about biometric payment cards, 30% of consumers cited design as important, whilst only 15% of banks we spoke to had it on their agenda. So, what considerations have already


been made to ensure this technology offers not only a technical edge, but a desirable addition to a bank’s offering?


Makeover on the cards Even before the pandemic, the physical bank branch was dying out as consumers moved to digital, on-demand services. Tis makes the payment card one of the few remaining physical relationships customers have with their banks. Mobile-centric challenger banks have


captured the attention of consumers with design and user-experience (UX) at the heart of their strategy. Beautiful cards alongside sleek mobile apps are helping them build bigger brands, with the traditional card reimagined by the likes of Monzo with its bright coral card, Starling with its sleek, minimalist front and vertical orientation, and Klarna with its card delivered to its users in a fluffy


The way technology feels and the user interface it delivers are closely intertwined with design


Defining design So, what exactly do consumers want to see from their biometric payment card? We sought feedback from consumers to help decide our latest sensor design and the responses made interesting reading. “Modern” and “personal” were the


highest-rated design traits across all age groups and geographies, with Europeans especially favouring a modern design. Te Chinese market ranked a techy feel very important, with over 50% citing it as a preference. We also wanted to see how


envelope. Other banks have even launched ‘design-your-own’ options. For traditional banks, there’s huge


opportunity to strengthen relationships and build customer loyalty, especially when launching new technology. Te opportunity to strengthen brand is key, which is just one of the reasons the latest generation of fingerprint sensors for cards is even smaller, meaning more space to play with on-card and, hence, more space for banks to build their brand.


04 December/January 2021 www.electronicsworld.co.uk


different designs made consumers feel. Tere were some variances here, but, undeniably, responses show that consumers felt that having the biometric sensor in the card was something to be excited about and to show off. Crucially, consumers also responded that it was easy to understand how to use the sensor from the design. Which leads to another important aspect: Te way technology feels and the UX it delivers are closely intertwined with design. Consumers are quick to feel frustrated and abandon new technologies if they are too complex or difficult to use. Poor design can easily lead to poor UX, compromising successful onboarding and adoption even aſter significant investment. Equally, enrolling fingerprints needs to be intuitive and uncomplicated. From our research, we shaped our


new sensor design to be one that struck the perfect balance between modern, personal and techy, whilst gesturing to the branding. Aſter all, design-savvy cards need a good- looking sensor, too.


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