Would you swap your house keys for your fingerprint?

Two in five (40%) UK consumers would replace everyday personal items with biometrically-powered devices, such as replacing their house or car keys with fingerprint access or facial ID.

What’s more, according to the new research from Visa, nearly a third of people over the age of 65 would also make the swap.

Brits Back Biometrics
The research, which surveyed 2,000 UK consumers, suggests a behavioural shift towards embracing digital tools for safeguarding personal information.

The findings discovered that over half (52%) agree biometric authentication is more secure than passwords, while over two in five (42%) consumers would feel more secure using biometrics to protect their data than traditional methods.

In the future, almost a third (31%) of respondents would consider using eye-scanning technology to make payments online, which involves scanning the unique patterns in a person’s retina to confirm their identity securely.

As consumers become more aware of data sharing, they’re seeking out solutions that offer greater control over their personal information. Consequently, the research found two-thirds (61%) would be willing to adopt a form of identification that only they can access digitally.

Fraud Fears Fuel Biometric Focus
As fraud attacks become increasingly sophisticated, innovative solutions are needed to better protect consumers’ personal information.

Visa’s research found that UK consumers agree that biometrics play a critical role in protecting themselves from crime, with over half (54%) agreeing it can reduce fraud.

Additionally, over half (54%) feel that biometric authentication is more secure than passwords, while the same percentage of respondents feel that biometrics can help better secure their transactions and financial information.

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Digital Replacing Physical?
With fraud fears growing, nearly half (49%) of UK consumers are now open to replacing their physical documents—like driver’s licences and passports—with a digital document to enhance the protection of their personal information.

Among different age groups, younger consumers aged 18 to 34 show the highest willingness to adopt this trend, with over half (56%) expressing interest, compared to above a third (37%) of those aged 65 and older.

Business Blockers for Digital Solutions
Despite the demand, Visa’s research discovered that out of 500 UK businesses, over a third (38%) still don’t offer their customers the option to use biometrics or digital documents for online payments.

Of those who don’t currently offer this option, factors limiting the implementation of these solutions included not having the budget (32%), expecting AI will do everything biometrics can soon (26%), and because they were unsure how to begin the process (25%).

However, the benefits of biometrics are quickly being realised, with two-thirds (68%) of businesses believing greater adoption will expedite everyday processes, and over three quarters (76%) agreeing that biometrics allow for a faster customer experience.

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