Panera Bread to introduce palm scanners for rewards.

Panera Bread to Implement Palm Scanners for Rewards Program

Panera Bread, the American fast-casual bakery-cafe chain, has announced plans to introduce palm scanners in several of its stores to connect a customer’s palmprint to their loyalty program membership. Developed by Amazon, the biometric technology can suggest items based on past orders, allow staff to personalize the experience by greeting customers by name, and show customers what rewards they have earned.

Implementation and Concerns

The palm scanners have already been introduced in St. Louis, Missouri where the chain has its headquarters. The company plans to implement the system in additional locations soon. While the technology claims to be secure, some are concerned about the risk of data breaches and potential misuse by the government.

Amazon’s Involvement

Last year, Amazon launched a similar biometric scanning technology for their Amazon Go locations. However, Amazon faced criticism and a lawsuit after it was revealed that customers’ biometric information was collected without their knowledge.

Conclusion

With the introduction of palm scanners, Panera Bread aims to enhance the customer experience with more personalized options. Nevertheless, there is potential for cybersecurity risks and misuse of customer data. As technology continues to advance, it is important to balance convenience with data privacy and protection in the interest of the customer.

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