Retail is at a crossroads. Traditional methods of checking IDs are outdated, slow, and costly. The future is digital, seamless, and secure.

The UK government is preparing to update the 2003 Licensing Act to allow Digital Age Verification for alcohol sales. Fujitsu, in collaboration with the Proof of Age Standards Scheme (PASS), is leading the charge to make this future a reality with the UK Digital Proof of Age Standards Scheme (DPASS).

Critically, retailers don’t need to wait for the law to change before transforming their operations. Digital Age Assurance solutions are already available to verify age across various products. Embracing this technology now will give retailers a competitive edge in an increasingly fast-evolving market.

The Clock is Ticking: What Retailers Must Know

While digital age verification for alcohol sales is rapidly approaching, it’s already transforming the way age-restricted products like energy drinks and pharmaceuticals are being handled. Retailers can take advantage of this technology today to stay ahead of the curve.

• Faster Transactions and Reduced Queues: No more bottlenecks at checkout. Automated age checks eliminate the delays caused by manual ID verification.

• Operational Efficiency: Staff are freed from age-checks, enabling them to focus on delivering exceptional customer service and driving sales.

• Stronger Compliance and Control: Automated age checks ensure every sale is in line with the law, protecting retailers from costly fines or reputational damage.

• A Safer Retail Environment: Fewer age-related disputes at checkout means less potential for violence and abuse against employees, a growing issue in the industry.

The Retailer’s Dilemma: Go Digital or Get Left Behind

Digital age verification is becoming a critical necessity. Retailers who delay will quickly fall behind as competitors embrace faster, more efficient solutions. With rising labour costs and increasing demands for seamless customer experiences, the old ways of verifying age are rapidly becoming obsolete. Fujitsu’s Digital Age Assurance solutions streamline age verification with speed and precision – without compromising customer experience or compliance.

Fujitsu’s Role in the Digital Revolution

As a leader in digital transformation, Fujitsu is at the forefront of this evolution, providing retailers with cutting-edge technologies that are already making a significant impact.

Designed for retail, our software solutions embed age assurance controls across all your customer sales channels offering market-leading accuracy, performance, and resilience, operating offline to ensure customers can always digitally prove their age:

• Age Verification: Customers can securely verify their age using a mobile app - no need for physical ID. This software solution supports the National UK DPASS standards, which can be integrated seamlessly within existing retail systems and can also be embedded within retailers' digital customer loyalty schemes.

• Age Estimation: Powered by AI, this technology allows retailers to estimate a customer’s age at speed and without friction, discreetly in real-time, without storing or transmitting personal data.

These technologies are already deployed across various physical retail channels, from self-checkouts to vending machines and collection lockers, preparing retailers for the future of digital age verification for alcohol sales and opening the door to a more efficient, secure, and customer-friendly shopping experience.

Getting Ahead of the Curve

The new digital age is coming – and it’s coming fast. Think about it: your customers want to breeze through checkout, and they don’t want their time wasted. With digital solutions, age verification happens with industry-leading speed and accuracy, ensuring compliance and creating a faster, smoother process. Retailers who adopt this technology will be ready for the future, not just reacting to it.

By implementing Digital Age Assurance today you’ll not only be ahead of the curve you’ll realise immediate benefits:

• Cut Costs: With less reliance on manual ID checks, retailers can give back hours to the store and streamline operations.

• Enhanced Customer Convenience: Faster payments and shorter queues at self-service checkouts reduce friction, creating a smoother, more enjoyable shopping experience.

• Prepare for Future Regulations: Retailers who adopt digital age verification now will be ready to expand into alcohol sales verification as soon as the legislation changes.

Preparing for the New Retail Reality with Digital Age Verification

Change is inevitable, and retailers who fail to embrace it risk being left behind. Retailers that act now will benefit from the operational efficiencies, better customer experiences, and stronger compliance that Digital Age Assurance brings. And with Fujitsu’s industry-leading solutions, they can do so with confidence.

The future of retail is digital, and the time to act is now. Will you be ready? Get in touch today.

Get in touch to discover how Fujitsu’s Age Assurance solutions can transform retail operations, making transactions faster, more secure, and compliant – enabling you to stay ahead in an evolving retail landscape.