Following India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) launch that allowed users to approve payments using fingerprints or facial scans, Amazon Pay introduced its support for biometric authentication in transactions.

The Shift from PIN

Previously, consumers were required to enter a PIN to authorize UPI transactions. However, now, under the new feature, transactions up to ₹5,000 (approximately $56) can be approved through biometric verification. The functionality is applicable across various payment scenarios, including both peer-to-peer and merchant-based transactions.

Early Success and Convenience

Amazon Pay highlighted the ease of using biometrics for payments, noting that more than 90% of eligible users preferred biometric authentication over traditional PINs for peer-to-peer payments. Additionally, Amazon Pay stressed the added security provided by biometric data tied to specific devices, which cannot be shared like a PIN.

Increasing Biometric Use in Payments

The growing familiarity with using biometrics on mobile phones has led to expectations that these methods will play an increasingly significant role in payments. However, wider adoption faces challenges such as the lack of broad infrastructure support for biometric payments and consumers’ need to opt-in to such systems.

UPI’s Global Influence

The UPI launch marks a critical step forward for biometric authentication in the realm of digital transactions. As one of the world’s largest real-time payment networks, UPI processes an astounding 20 billion transactions monthly and is managed by the National Payments Corporation of India.

Amazon Pay’s Growth Prospects

This rapid expansion has motivated Amazon to heavily invest in its Amazon Pay platform. Although currently holding a smaller market share compared to dominant players like PhonePE and Google Pay, Amazon Pay’s biometric launch serves as a significant milestone for practical applications of real-world biometrics.