Retailers could significantly strengthen fraud prevention while improving the customer experience at self-checkout following the launch of a new AI-powered age verification solution from Scandit.
The company’s new Age Verified Self-Checkout platform automates age verification for restricted purchases such as alcohol, tobacco and medication, reducing the need for staff intervention while helping detect fraudulent use of identity documents.
According to Scandit, the technology addresses one of retail’s biggest operational challenges, with around nine billion age-restricted self-checkout transactions taking place globally each year. The company says around 80% of age checks can now be completed automatically in under 10 seconds, making the process six times faster for shoppers while increasing checkout throughput.
For merchant fraud and risk teams, one of the platform’s most significant features is its ability to combat identity fraud during age verification. Rather than simply validating an ID document, the system combines on-device facial age estimation with photo comparison technology, helping identify instances where underage customers attempt to use another person’s identification.
The verification process is designed to operate without additional checkout hardware. Customers scan a QR code displayed at the self-checkout, complete verification using their smartphone browser and receive an instant pass or fail result. If facial age estimation falls below a retailer’s threshold, the customer is prompted to scan their ID, which is then securely compared against a live selfie before authorisation is granted.
Scandit says all biometric processing takes place entirely on the customer’s device, with no facial images or identity data transmitted to either the retailer or Scandit itself. The solution has been designed to comply with GDPR, CCPA, ISO/IEC 27566-1, ISO27001 and UKAS Challenge 25 requirements.
Beyond compliance, the company believes the technology can reduce retail fraud while improving operational efficiency. By automating routine age checks, retailers can free store colleagues to focus on higher-value activities, reduce queues during peak trading periods and minimise opportunities for underage purchases using fraudulent identification.
As retailers continue investing in AI-driven checkout technologies, solutions that combine customer convenience with stronger identity verification and fraud prevention are likely to become an increasingly important component of loss prevention strategies, particularly across grocery, convenience, fuel and supermarket environments where age-restricted sales are common.
Photo by Erik Mclean on Unsplash
