Businesses are reconsidering their security strategies and approaches to prevent security breaches by malicious actors in the current global environment. Security threats are widespread and affect individuals, governments, and enterprises physically and digitally. When it comes to securing digital transactions and giving consumers a seamless experience, biometric authentication methods are rising in popularity. The use of biometrics is expanding across various sectors, from healthcare and finance to travel and hospitality and even financial transactions. The biometrics market and its technologies are continuously evolving due to the swift development of biometric use cases and the adoption of multiple biometric modalities encompassing physiological and behavioral factors. As a result, the market is expected to continue growing and evolving user preferences for various forms of biometric identity authentication. According to market projections, global biometric spending is expected to reach $82.9 billion by 2027.
Several industries have completely embraced contactless biometrics systems. For example, airports and transportation hubs use facial recognition technology to expedite check-in and boarding, while hospitals use voice recognition technology to identify patients and staff. Retailers also use facial recognition technology to personalize customer experiences and reduce the risk of fraud, while workplaces use it to give their employees access.
Advantages of Contactless Biometrics
Contactless biometrics, or touchless biometrics, refers to biometric identification and authentication technologies that do not require physical contact with a sensor or device. These technologies include facial recognition, voice recognition, iris recognition, and behavioral biometrics such as gait analysis. Contactless biometrics have become increasingly popular in recent years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as they offer a more hygienic and convenient alternative to traditional biometric systems that require physical contact. There are several advantages of contactless biometrics over traditional biometric systems.- Contactless biometrics eliminates the need for physical contact, reducing the risk of transmission of infectious diseases. This is particularly important in high-traffic areas such as airports, train stations, and other public transportation hubs.
- It offers greater convenience and ease of use by identifying or authenticating users from a distance without needing physical contact.
- Contactless biometrics also offer greater accuracy and reliability than traditional biometric systems. Facial recognition, for example, can accurately identify individuals even if they wear masks or other facial coverings. This makes it particularly useful in settings where masks are required, such as hospitals or other healthcare facilities.
- It is also very scalable and cost-effective, as it can be easily integrated with existing hardware and software, making them more scalable and cost-effective.
- It is user-friendly, more accessible, and accommodating to a broader range of users.
Feature | Contactless Biometrics | Traditional Biometrics |
Physical Contact | No physical contact required | Requires physical contact with the sensor (fingers, iris) |
Hygiene & Disease Control | Reduced risk of disease transmission | Higher risk of spreading germs/viruses |
Convenience & Ease of Use | Identification/authentication from a distance | Requires specific positioning for accurate capture |
Accuracy & Reliability | Techniques like facial recognition work despite masks or coverings | May struggle with certain physical changes or external factors |
Scalability & Cost-Effectiveness | Easy integration with existing hardware/software | May require significant hardware upgrades |
User Friendliness & Accessibility | More accessible to a broader range of users (e.g., disabilities) | Maybe exclusionary for some users due to physical requirements |
Increased Security | – Can be combined with other authentication factors for multi-layered security. | – Traditional biometrics alone can be vulnerable to spoofing attempts. |
Improved Data Privacy | – Biometric templates can be stored securely with advanced encryption and anonymization techniques. | – Traditional systems may store physical biometric data, raising privacy concerns. |
Reduced Fraud & Identity Theft | – Contactless systems are harder to fool with fake biometrics. | – Traditional systems can be susceptible to fake fingerprints, iris scans, etc. |
Enhanced User Experience | – Faster and smoother experience without the need for physical interaction. | – Traditional systems can be slow and cumbersome, impacting user experience. |