Manchester City Council has approved a biometric identity system which uses vein mapping technology.

FinGo believes its system can aid the hospitality industry by helping them comply with test and trace guidelines and payments. The City Council has also given it the go-ahead to be used as proof of age.

“Our initial launch in Spinningfields at the XYZ Building was delayed by the pandemic, but this provided us with a really beneficial period to evolve the offer and address the emerging challenges brought on by COVID-19,” explained Simon Binns, Chief Commercial Officer at FinGo.

“What we have now is a solution that puts all of the customer power in their own hands. And unlike other solutions, no personal information is shared with the venue. With a quick scan of the finger, customers leave a secure record of their visit, if needed for test and trace purposes. Crucially this will also take some of the pressure off the hospitality staff who have many new guidelines to contend with.

“Our vision is that you will be able to walk into any bar or restaurant in Manchester, pay for your dinner and hop on the Metro, all with the scan of your finger. What better place to do this then the city that has given the world so many firsts?”

FinGo uses the user’s unique vein pattern, rather than fingerprint, to enable secure, identity-enabled transactions. The company says that it includes the ability to capture and store a user’s contact details securely, with their permission, which can be activated as part of test and trace efforts.