The global biometric system market is expected to hit nearly $68.6B by 2025. Over 176 million Americans rely on facial recognition technology, and the market is expected to rise rapidly in realms such as logistics and supply chain management.

Biometric systems, which rely on unique biological traits, have great potential in these sectors since they provide enhanced security and convenience.  They also boost the efficiency of practices and the speed of the flow of goods, making it easier for teams to achieve their goals and reduce the friction associated with many routine transactions.

Below are just a few ways in which biometrics can revolutionize logistics and supply chain processes for modern-day companies.

Improved Security

Biometric systems use personal characteristics such as the iris, face, fingerprint, or palmprint, obtained from a camera or scanner. The use of these characteristics provides a much higher level of security than password-based systems do because they are extremely difficult to replicate. Biometric authentication can be combined with other systems to provide multi-factor authentication. Doing so enables security systems to detect individuals who are trying to obtain unauthorized access more easily. As such, biometrics are an ideal choice for sensitive areas such as warehouses, docks, and inventory storage zones.

These systems can help prevent theft and ensure the integrity of goods as they make their way through the supply chain. Biometric identity cards can additionally be used to link cargo to specific drivers or vehicles.

Improving Management

Biometric systems are also an efficient way to track the movement and whereabouts of personnel. Data shared by employees can be used to improve payment accuracy and staff management. The movement of persons within warehouses and manufacturing plants can also be conducted to improve employee safety.

Reducing Time Wastage

With traditional identification systems, employees can waste undue time providing identity data to access facilities or fleets. The case is even worse when customs and immigration clearance for crew members at ports is involved. Biometric systems allow for instant identification of employees and speedy clearance processes. As such, supply times and staff time wastage can both be reduced.

Enhancing Cargo Security

Biometrics can be used to prevent the theft of cargo, and to track the precise location of goods. Many companies are integrating biometrics with GPS and track and trace systems, to obtain improved control over the movement of goods. In a flash, managers can trace missing cargo to specific handlers, thus reducing the time associated with investigations. By implementing biometric solutions, companies can also keep more accurate records of goods for use in regular audits.

Do Biometric Systems Post a Security Threat?

Biometrics are seen as a panacea to security issues, but they are not problem-free. One of the biggest risks posed by biometrics is that biometric data is still data. As such, it is vulnerable to hacking just as any type of data is. A 2023 report by the US Department of Defense found that biometrics has a glaring security blind spot. To put it simply, organizations are not treating this data with the increased security it requires. And unlike passwords or credit cards, biometric data cannot be replaced if it is hacked. Just this year, over one million facial recognition records from former employees of the Australian company Outabox were leaked. That data is now in the hands of unknown individuals or organizations. Her dangers include restrictions on the freedom of movement of people, discriminatory profiling, and the marginalization of certain groups. It is also feared that data collection could be used beyond its original purpose, thus exposing people to risks they have not consented to.

Strengthening Security

Companies undertaking logistics and supply chain tasks should prioritize security if they opt for biometric systems. Doing so will keep their employees, goods, and vehicles safe from cybercriminals. Key steps to take include relying on on-device verification, which reduces the amount of data created and shared with other systems. By configuring systems and devices to perform on-device verification, users only need to create and store a single biometric template. This data is kept on one device and no data leaves this device. Systems can be configured to distort part of a person’s face so that it contains one item of useful data while still leaving the person unrecognizable. Companies can also convert biometric samples into mathematical representations of features or characteristics from source data, including fingerprint scans, facial images, and voice recordings. 

Biometric systems have the potential to increase the efficiency of speed of logistics and supply chain tasks. They are also a vital way of managing staff. Risks are present, but these can be minimized through the use of biometric templates that convert data into mathematical representations.