Calling All Retailers – Please Take Our True/False Quiz
The M2SYS Technology True/False Quiz part deux. I’m sure our loyal readers have been on the edge of their seats since our first True/False Quiz post – 5 months ago. Yes, the Rip Van Winkle of blog posts series has finally awakened.
So how did you do? If you are here at our blog that means you clicked on the link to learn more details on why a question was true or false. If you are visiting our blog first – then please click on the link above for the quiz, then come back and see the detailed answers below. No cheating by looking at the answers before taking the quiz!!
Here are the detailed answers to the questions:
1. Finger vein and palm vein are too expensive as an alternative to fingerprint technology.
Answer – False
Finger vein and palm vein technology are referred to as “vascular biometrics” which relies on capturing an image of the vein pattern beneath the finger or palm with near infrared light and using that image as the basis for individual identification. Unlike fingerprint technology, integrity of the skin is not an issue with vascular biometrics. In addition, vascular biometrics is definitely an affordable alternative to fingerprint.
2. Using biometric technology can help save the environment.
Answer – True
Each year, Americans waste enough paper to build a 12-foot wall of paper from New York to California. One way to reduce the amount of paper used in a business is to switch from antiquated paper and pen time and attendance techniques to biometric based desktop time and attendance software. Another way you can use biometrics to help the environment is by switching from plastic membership cards to a biometric check in system.
3. Indonesia is currently using biometric technology to curb violence in bars and nightclubs.
Answer – False
It’s actually Australia. Ok, so this question is not so retailish but pertinent nonetheless. Australia is currently launching an ambitious public safety program where bars and nightclubs can opt into a biometric identification initiative that requires all patrons to submit their fingerprint in order to gain entry to the establishment. So far, it’s received positive reviews.
4. It is possible to achieve a 300% ROI (return on investment) during the 1st year of using biometric technology.
Answer – True
One of our end users actually achieved a 300% return on investment during the first year they used biometric technology for time and attendance! Cal Poly Pomona uses M2SYS biometric technology with its KRONOS time and attendance software which has eliminated buddy punching, boosted staff productivity and decreased backlogs.
5. Biometric technology can help a retailer with PCI Compliance.
Answer – True
Biometric technology offers merchants an opportunity to incorporate a level of authentication security that is unsurpassed in the industry. Biometrics relies on physiological characteristics (fingerprint, finger vein, palm vein, iris recognition, etc.) to identify an individual’s identity rather than something you know (personal identification number or PIN) or something you have (credit or debit card). Due to the fact that anyone can steal your credit or debit card and obtain your PIN for fraudulent transactions, biometric technology is the only true way to identify someone with near absolute certainty.
6. Using biometric technology can enhance customer loyalty.
Answer – True
Instituting a biometric identification system, especially in a retail environment, builds customer loyalty. To help combat fraud, biometrics is used as part of an overarching plan that helps keeps prices low and customers happy.
7. Biometric technology is about as secure as barcode cards and Personal Identification Numbers (PINs).
Answer – False
Biometric technology is much more secure than barcode cards and personal identification numbers. Read this post and you be the judge.
8. Buddy punching can equate to 2 – 5% of total expenditures.
Answer – True
Don’t believe us? Check out our dedicated web page on eliminating buddy punching and plug the numbers to see for yourself.
9. Loss prevention in the retail sector is a good application of biometric technology.
Answer – True
The simple fact is that employees steal from businesses. The numbers speak for themselves – employee dishonesty costs American business in excess of $50 billion annually and 20% of every dollar earned by a U.S. company is lost to employee theft. Biometrics can help to curb this by eliminating the swapping of barcode cards and PIN’s and securing access to authorized only areas of a retail establishment.
10. Capturing an individual’s biometric information is tantamount to a violation of their privacy.
Answer – False
Biometric identity enrollment templates stored on a server or computers are not actually images at all. They are a mathematical representation of the data points that a biometric algorithm extracts from the scanned fingerprint, finger vein, palm vein or iris. The identity template is simply a binary data file, a series of zeros and ones. The algorithm then uses the template to positively identify an individual during subsequent fingerprint scans. No image is ever stored or transmitted across a network.
To the credit of those that fear privacy invasion, the real fear is that mass quantities of biometric information can be captured at once from hacking into a private industry biometrics system. In addition, they fear the idea that biometric information cannot be changed if compromised, unlike something like a social security or bank account number. We feel that this is a valid point, and one that’s difficult to refute however all biometric data is stored using the AES 128 bit encryption algorithm.
Hope you enjoyed installment #2 of our “Biometric True/False Quiz Questions” series. More future quizzes to come…
