New Facial Recognition Payment Tech Created, Premiered in Pasadena

Pasadena-based PopID’s facial recognition payment service, called PopPay, is now in use in at least 25 Pasadena establishments, making it easier for small businesses and their customers to observe restrictions and safety measures during the coronavirus pandemic.

A Cali Group company, PopID introduced the hands-free payment service around 2016, enabling thousands of customers at restaurant chains ?across the country to quickly and easily access their loyalty accounts, view and select from past orders and pay at self-service kiosks.

Soon after, companies began using the technology to enable workplace entry for their employees without having to use an electronic key card. The initial deployments of the PopID door entry system were near areas where PopID was already being used by consumers for food ordering and payment.

A Fox 11 Los Angeles report last weekend said dozens of businesses in Pasadena have now embraced PopPay and are making customers feel more secure in their contact-free purchases. These businesses include Again Café, Arroyo Chop House, BAN SUP refill, Bar Celona, Bubble Puff and Tea, Contessa Italian Foods, Daddy’s Chicken Shack, DogHaus, Fair Oaks Burger, The Fit Bar Superfood Cafe, Food Bar, Lêberry Bakery, Lemonade, Mediterranean Grill, Milkcow Café, Monopole Wine, Parkway Grill, Pho Banh Mi Che Cali, Real Food Cafe, Space Bar Wellness Center, Smitty’s, Sorriso, Taste of Pace, and Tortas Mexico.

Companies like Belcampo, Bojangles, Dairi-O, Deli Time, Plant Power, and Port of Subs adopted the system earlier.

PopID’s sister company Caliburger was among the first restaurants to use the platform, the company said.

Caliburger also started deploying touch-free entry screening in March, with devices attached to doors measuring the body temperatures of restaurant staff, delivery drivers, and guests before they enter the building.

The technology could be applied to other buildings such as retail stores, offices, and homes to enhance health and safety.  Wider adoption of this system could serve to identify hot spots and spikes in the spread of COVID-19 and other transmissible viruses.

Customers can use PopID’s facial recognition payment service at drive-thrus or in-venue kiosks via a display screen affixed to the sneeze guard at the counter, or tableside with a waiter scanning the patron’s face using a handheld Android device, the Fox 11 LA report said.

Once recognized, the business simply draws from the customer’s PopID account before sending a text message confirming payment. With PopID accounts tied to loyalty programs for automatic credit, users have full control over their account and can opt-out of the secure service at any time.

To register for PopID, visit www.popid.com.