Green Hills Switches From Biometrics Back to Cards

MICHAEL GARRY

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Green Hills, a one-store independent here, began converting its SmartShop targeted discount program last week from a biometric, finger-scan-based system to one that uses cards, said Lisa Piron, director of MIS. That change came after Pay By Touch, San Francisco, suspended support of biometric transactions as of just before midnight March 19. Solidus Networks, owner of Pay By Touch, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Dec. 14, 2007. Green Hills’ program also allowed shoppers to make a payment at the POS via the finger-scan method. Piron said about 6,000 households, half of the store’s total shopping base, signed up for SmartShop since it was introduced two years ago. About one-third used it for payment. As a temporary measure, Green Hills allowed its SmartShop customers to access targeted discounts at the POS register by simply providing the “search number” they had used with their finger-scan, said Piron. Other retailers that have used Pay By Touch include Piggly Wiggly Carolina, Dorothy Lane Market, Jewel-Osco and Cub Foods.

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