FinGo vending machine checks veins to verify age

  • May 24, 2022
  • Steve Rogerson

Vein mapping technology is being used by biometric identity company FinGo to produce a retail vending machine where users can pay and prove their age through a scan of their finger.

UK company FinGo’s vein mapping technology connects a person’s unique vein pattern to their identity, to enable securely a range of transactions including payments, access and, recently, identity verification.

In 2020, Manchester City Council was the first to approve FinGo for verifying age in licensed premises, so customers could pay and prove their age for an alcoholic drink with their finger. This year, FinGo is taking part in UK Home Office trials of digital age verification technology, used to approve sales of alcohol.

This technology has now been brought to vending machines with FinGoVend for selling age-restricted products such as alcoholic drinks, e-cigarettes and vapes. Shoppers can simply scan their finger, linking their unique vein pattern to their identity and digital wallet, before purchase the product.

Wine merchant Vagabond Wines and craft brewery First Chop are the first brands to offer a selection of their drinks through a FinGoVend machine, which premiered at the recent Vendex Midlands show in the UK.

“At First Chop we’ve always looked to align ourselves with innovation and thought leadership, it’s part of our DNA,” said Richard Garner, managing director of First Chop Beer. “From our commitment to making 100% gluten free beers to working with progressive companies such as FinGo, it’s all about thinking a little differently and applying that with conviction to solve a market need. Enter FinGo, a company we’re really excited to watch grow in our space and hopefully make great beer more easily accessible to everyone.”

Paul Hunter, operations director at Vagabond Wines, added: “Vagabond believe that great wine should be accessible to all, so we’re delighted to showcase a selection of our wines from our Urban Winery in Battersea through FinGoVend. As a company that’s all about innovation and trying new things, FinGoVend will allow us to expand our footstep and reach new wine lovers beyond our seven London locations.”

And Simon Binns, chief commercial officer of FinGo, said: “We believe FinGoVend is going to be a gamechanger. Brands can expand their reach with new direct to customer relationships. For the hospitality sector, it’s a new frictionless solution to managing age verification and adding additional revenue through more sales points. For customers, it’s just much more convenient – no need to carry ID, cards or device when buying a drink.”

FinGo partnered with the RBC Group, a pioneer in automated retail design and manufacturing, to introduce the first FinGoVend product.

“As a business innovating at the vanguard of unattended retail, our collaboration with FinGo will serve as a pivotal partnership,” said Derek Edwards, founder of RBC Group. “Integrating FinGo’s pioneering technology to enable age and identity restricted sales with our industry-leading solutions will unlock the true potential of the burgeoning unattended retail landscape, and allow us to deliver the most seamless experience for our customers.”