How Automated Age Verification Works for Smart Lockers
In short
Automated age verification checks, without human intervention, that a person is old enough before a product is handed over. With AgePass, the customer scans the QR code displayed on the locker, centres their face on their phone screen, with no app, and their age is verified in a few seconds: the locker only opens if the age is validated. AgePass verifies age only, never identity, and timestamps every step of the pickup.
Contents
Definition: automated age verification
Automated age verification is a check, carried out without human intervention, that determines whether a person is old enough to obtain a product, and that makes the handover of the product depend on the result. It applies wherever no staff member is present to check age: parcel lockers, in-store click and collect lockers, unattended pickup points.
It is also called automated age checking. Internationally, these systems fall under the term "age assurance". The ISO/IEC 27566-1 standard, published in December 2025, sets out a framework for these systems, including their privacy and security characteristics (AFNOR page accessed on 26 October 2026).
AgePass is an automated facial age verification solution for smart lockers and unattended pickup. AgePass verifies age only, not identity.
Why automate the age check?
Unattended pickup removes the counter, and with it the sales assistant who could ask for proof of age. Without a check at pickup, anyone holding the pickup code can open the locker, including a minor.
Automated age verification puts a check back at this exact point of the journey, without bringing staff back. It covers age-restricted products, such as alcohol, and products that a retailer chooses to reserve for adults, such as CBD or some pharmacy and parapharmacy products.
The applicable rules depend on the product and the country, and should be checked with a legal adviser.
How does automated age verification work, step by step?
With AgePass, the customer journey at the locker has five steps. Age verification is the only step added to the usual pickup.
- QR code scan. At the locker, the customer uses their phone to scan the QR code displayed on the locker.
- Web page opens. An age verification web page opens on the customer's phone. There is no app to install. The details are explained in our article on age verification without an app.
- Face scan. Guided by the camera preview, the customer centres their face on the screen.
- Automatic decision. AgePass verifies the customer's age automatically, in a few seconds, without human intervention.
- Opening or refusal. If the age is validated, the opening authorisation is sent to the locker and the customer collects their product. If not, the locker stays closed and the product cannot be collected.
An adult customer whose age was not validated can redo the face scan immediately.
What exactly does AgePass verify: age or identity?
AgePass verifies age only. The question is simple: is the person in front of the locker above the age threshold set for this product?
AgePass does not try to find out who the customer is:
- no ID document to show or photograph;
- no identity verification;
- no account to create and no app to install;
- the face image is not saved: it is used only to verify age.
Facial age verification is still processing of personal data. The data controller must identify its legal basis, inform the people concerned and check whether a data protection impact assessment (DPIA) is required.
Which age thresholds can be configured?
The AgePass age threshold can be set to one of 7 age thresholds: over 8, 13, 16, 18, 21, 25 or 30.
The retailer chooses the product categories subject to the check and sets a threshold for each category. Only orders from the chosen categories trigger the face scan: other pickups do not change. The threshold depends on the product and the applicable regulations, to be confirmed by the seller.
What record is kept of each verification?
Automated age verification must be provable after the event. AgePass timestamps and archives every step of the pickup:
- the QR code scan;
- the age verification;
- the locker opening;
- the product handover;
- refusals, where applicable.
The face image is not saved: the record keeps the steps of the pickup, not the customer's photo. Each handover receives a timestamped compliance token. Proofs are stored with protected access and the compliance log can be exported for an audit. The steps of the proof are shown in the AgePass features.
How do you add automated age verification to existing lockers?
AgePass integrates via API, without replacing existing lockers or kiosks and without rebuilding the IT system. The locker keeps working as before: it simply receives the opening authorisation after a successful age verification.
Integration via API takes a few days to a few weeks, depending on the size of the network of lockers or pickup points, with a dedicated AgePass team at every stage. The split of roles between retailer, locker operator and integrator is described in our guide to age verification for parcel lockers.
Automated verification, tick box or human check?
There are three ways to check age before handing over a product. They do not check the same person, nor at the same moment.
| Criterion | Tick box at checkout | Human check at the counter | Automated check at the locker (AgePass) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Checks the person collecting | No | Yes | Yes |
| Works without staff | Yes | No | Yes |
| Actual age verification | No, a simple declaration | Yes | Yes, by face scan |
| Timestamped proof per handover | No | No | Yes |
The tick box is a declaration by the buyer. Nobody checks it, and the buyer is not necessarily the person who collects the product.
The human check applies to the right person, but requires a staff member at the moment of handover. AgePass does not replace an existing human check: it secures the journeys where no check is possible.
Automated verification checks the person present at the locker, at the moment of pickup, and makes the opening depend on the result. It also lets unattended pickup points accept products reserved for adults.
Key takeaways
- Automated age verification checks age without human intervention and makes the handover of the product depend on the result.
- With AgePass, the customer scans the QR code displayed on the locker, centres their face on their phone, with no app, and their age is verified in a few seconds.
- AgePass verifies age only, never identity, without saving the face image, with a threshold set to one of 7 age thresholds, from over 8 to over 30.
- The locker only opens if the age is validated, and every step is timestamped and archived, with a timestamped compliance token per handover.
- AgePass integrates via API, without changing existing lockers or software.
See age verification in action
A 30-minute video demo shows the full journey, from the QR code scan to the locker opening. Book a demo to explore the integration on your pickup points, or join the waitlist to start a free 2-month pilot, no commitment.
Frequently asked questions
- What is automated age verification?
- Automated age verification is a check, carried out without human intervention, that determines whether a person is old enough to obtain a product. With AgePass, the check is a face scan on the customer's phone, which takes a few seconds, before the locker opens.
- Does facial age verification identify the customer?
- No. AgePass verifies only the customer's age, by face scan. AgePass does not verify the customer's identity, does not ask for any ID document and does not save the face image.
- How long does automated age verification take with AgePass?
- The face scan and the verification take only a few seconds. The decision is automatic: the locker opens if the age is validated and stays closed if it is not.
- What is the difference between automated age verification and an "I am over 18" tick box?
- A tick box is a declaration that nobody checks. Automated age verification checks the person who is present at pickup and makes the opening of the locker depend on the result of the check.
- Do you need new lockers to add automated age verification?
- No. AgePass integrates via API, without replacing existing lockers or kiosks and without rebuilding the IT system. Integration takes a few days to a few weeks, depending on the size of the locker network.