How Positivo Tecnologia Launched a Palm-Based Biometric Payment Terminal for Pix in Brazil
Positivo Tecnologia partnered with Tencent PalmAI to build Brazil's first palm-based smart terminal — combining Pix, debit, and credit with 500ms contactless palm recognition. See how they did it.
Positivo Tecnologia partnered with Tencent PalmAI to build Brazil's first palm-based smart payment terminal — combining Pix, debit, and credit processing with 500ms contactless palm recognition in a single Android device.
At a Glance
| Dimension | Detail |
|---|---|
| Client | Positivo Tecnologia (Positivo Soluções em Pagamentos) |
| Industry | Payment terminals / Retail technology |
| Region | Brazil (Latin America) |
| Challenge | Checkout friction from QR codes, PINs, and device dependency in Pix payments |
| Solution | Tencent PalmAI palm recognition integrated into Android smart terminal |
| Key Result | Palm-based contactless Pix payment in ~500ms, no phone or card required |
| Launch | Unveiled at Autocom 2026, São Paulo; acquirer rollout H2 2026 |
Retail Payment Friction in Brazil's Pix-Dominated Market
Positivo Tecnologia, a leading Brazilian IT infrastructure company founded in 1989, manufactures and distributes computers, servers, smartphones, and payment terminals across 17+ countries in Latin America. Through its payments division — Positivo Soluções em Pagamentos — the company serves Brazil's largest retail acquirers.
Despite Pix's success in digitizing Brazil's payment landscape (200M+ registered users), physical retail checkout still faces friction:
Before PalmAI:
| Pain point | Business impact |
|---|---|
| QR code scanning requires phone screen | Adds 5–10 seconds per transaction during peak hours |
| PINs and passwords slow checkout | Higher abandonment at high-traffic retail locations |
| Festival/event wristbands and physical cards | Additional accessory cost and logistics for venues |
| Card fraud and skimming risk | Revenue loss and consumer trust erosion |
For Positivo, the opportunity was clear: integrate a biometric layer directly into the payment terminal so that Pix, debit, and credit transactions could all be authenticated by a single, device-free gesture.
Why Positivo Tecnologia Chose Tencent PalmAI
Positivo evaluated biometric authentication options for its next-generation terminal. The selection criteria and PalmAI's response:
- Contactless and hygienic — Palm recognition requires no physical contact, unlike fingerprint readers
- Speed at scale — PalmAI delivers verification in ~500ms, proven across 100,000+ stores and 100M+ users
- Dual-modal security — Combining palm print (surface) and palm vein (sub-dermal) makes forgery virtually impossible
- Production reliability — Zero misidentifications in production across all deployments globally
- Android SDK integration — PalmAI provides SDK and API for seamless embedding into Positivo's Android terminal platform
PalmAI Palm Recognition Powers Positivo's Smart Terminal
The jointly developed solution integrates Tencent PalmAI's palm recognition service into Positivo's handheld Android terminal. The device uses multispectral imaging (RGB + infrared) to map the vascular structure of the user's palm.
Technical implementation:
| Component | Detail |
|---|---|
| Biometric modality | Palm print + palm vein (dual-modal) |
| Sensor technology | Multispectral imaging (RGB + infrared) |
| Verification speed | ~500 milliseconds |
| Payment integration | Pix, debit, credit — unified in single terminal |
| Platform | Android-based handheld smart terminal |
| Enrollment | One-time self-registration on device |
| Deployment mode | Cloud-connected via Tencent PalmAI Service |
Live demo: palm recognition checkout on Positivo's smart terminal at Autocom 2026
User flow:
- Register: user places palm near the sensor once to enroll biometric template, linked to Pix/card account
- Authenticate: at any Positivo terminal, hover palm → verified in ~500ms
- Transact: Pix, debit, or credit payment processes automatically — no phone, no card, no PIN
"This integrated point-of-sale technology enhances the customer experience by increasing speed and reducing friction. We integrated the biometric module into the terminal to streamline commercial operations while elevating security standards." — Norberto Maraschin Filho, Vice President of Consumer and Mobility Business, Positivo Tecnologia
Positivo's Terminal: Designed for Brazil's Retail and Beyond
The terminal's deployment scenarios extend well beyond traditional retail checkout:
| Scenario | Application |
|---|---|
| Convenience stores & supermarkets | Contactless Pix checkout, queue reduction |
| Events & festivals | Replace wristbands and physical tickets with palm-based access + payment |
| Hospitals & laboratories | Patient identification and payment without cards or phones |
| Corporate facilities | Access control + internal payment in a single gesture |
This versatility positions Positivo's terminal as a multi-purpose biometric POS device for Brazil's diverse market — not just a payment tool, but an identity verification platform.
What's Next for Positivo and PalmAI in Brazil
The Positivo–PalmAI partnership signals a broader shift in how Brazil's payment ecosystem will evolve. As palm recognition technology matures in one of the world's most digitally advanced payment markets, the potential extends far beyond retail checkout:
- From single-store to ecosystem-wide adoption — as acquirers integrate palm-enabled terminals, consumers will encounter contactless biometric payment across convenience stores, supermarkets, and specialty retail
- Beyond payment into identity — the same palm recognition that powers checkout can also verify identity for event access, healthcare check-in, and corporate security — all from a single device
- A new standard for inclusive commerce — palm recognition requires no smartphone, no card, and no PIN, making it accessible to populations underserved by traditional digital payment methods
The partnership also builds on Tencent Cloud's earlier collaboration with Treeal, a Brazilian fintech, to bring PalmAI to the Brazilian market — signaling a sustained commitment to Latin America's payment evolution.
FAQ
How does palm-based biometric payment work with Pix?
Users register their palm on a Positivo smart terminal linked to their Pix account. At checkout, they hover their palm for contactless verification in ~500ms. The transaction processes via Pix, debit, or credit — no phone, card, or QR code required.
What makes palm recognition more secure than fingerprint or facial recognition?
Tencent PalmAI uses dual-modal biometrics — combining palm print (surface pattern) and palm vein (sub-dermal vascular structure). Palm vein patterns are hidden under the skin and cannot be photographed or replicated, making forgery virtually impossible. The system has achieved zero misidentifications across 100M+ users in production.
When will the Positivo palm payment terminal be available in Brazil?
The terminal was unveiled at Autocom 2026 in São Paulo. Positivo plans to make it available to leading Brazilian acquirers in the second half of 2026.
Media Coverage
- Pagamento por biometria da palma da mão: segurança sob a pele
- Pagamentos com a palma da mão: solução Positivo Tecnologia e Tencent Cloud
- Positivo Tecnologia anuncia dispositivo de pagamento com a palma da mão
- Tencent Cloud Press Release
Related
→ Read: The Future of Pix Payments — Is Biometric Authentication Next in Brazil?
