Tencent partners with Visa to introduce palm recognition payments in Singapore pilot programme

Tencent and Visa announced a significant strategic partnership to introduce palm recognition technology in digital payments.

The initial rollout will take place in Singapore, allowing Visa cardholders from banks such as DBS, OCBC, and UOB to participate in a pilot programme where they can use “Pay by Palm” technology at select locations.

The service was introduced at the Singapore Fintech Festival (SFF), where attendees were able to experience the technology at the Tencent and Visa booths.

The pilot programme enables users to pay by scanning their palm at Alchemist café in Singapore.

Yang Wenhui, General Manager at Tencent Financial Technology Asia Pacific, presented the initiative during the SFF, highlighting Tencent’s commitment to data security and privacy, as well as the innovative nature of the palm recognition system.

Mr Yang described the benefits of the system, emphasizing Tencent’s commitment to security and technology that enhances user convenience.

Through its Singapore subsidiary, Tencent SenseTech Pte. Ltd, Tencent plans to offer technical support and comply with Singapore’s data localisation requirements, ensuring privacy and compliance.

Adeline Kim, Visa’s Country Manager for Singapore & Brunei, reinforced the partnership’s vision by sharing that nearly 70% of Singapore consumers view biometric payments as secure, based on Visa’s recent biometric study.

Kim underscored the convenience and security that the palm recognition system would bring, reflecting Visa’s ongoing commitment to improving consumer payment experiences.

The “Pay by Palm” service allows Visa cardholders to enroll through a one-time setup process at participating merchant locations.

The enrolment process involves tapping their Visa card, scanning their palm, and completing a one-time authentication. Following this setup, users can simply wave their palm over the payment terminal for future transactions. This process links a Visa payment token with the palm’s biometric data, meaning that physical cards or mobile phones are not needed for subsequent payments at participating merchants.

Tencent’s palm recognition system has been designed with advanced security and privacy measures. The technology can authenticate a user’s palm through a dual-verification system, recognising both palm prints and unique vein patterns below the skin.

This layered authentication increases accuracy and security, making it suitable for various lighting conditions. Additionally, user data is encrypted and stored in an irreversible format, preventing it from being decrypted or misused by third parties. According to Tencent, this encryption approach is designed to protect personal data from theft or misuse.

The collaboration between Tencent and Visa is expected to provide Singapore’s consumers with a seamless and secure payment method that leverages cutting-edge biometric technology.

Tencent is looking to broaden the applications of this technology by partnering with other industries and exploring new use cases in various sectors. This strategic move aligns with Singapore’s push towards innovative fintech solutions, positioning Tencent and Visa as pioneers in biometric payment technology.