Gone are the days of squinting at holograms or holding IDs up to the light like a detective. Over the last 5 years with the majority of ID documents now being produced with NFC chips embedded, software companies sought an opportunity to use the secure and fast NFC technology in smartphones to verify ID documents. Saving organizations time on tedious data entry and paperwork while improving the customer onboarding experience, with a simple tap of an NFC-enabled ID document, such as a passport or driver’s license, against a smartphone, users can instantly verify their identity and admin teams can auto-fill identity verification documents efficiently. This seamless process leverages embedded chips that store personal information like name, date of birth, and other key details, making identity verification faster, more secure, and more efficient.
Importance of ID verification using technology
Fraudsters are becoming increasingly sophisticated, using high-quality counterfeit documents that are difficult to detect with the naked eye. Traditional verification methods require document holders to undergo additional scrutiny, such as bending ID cards or placing them against a light source to reveal security features. These manual methods are time-consuming and prone to human error.
By leveraging NFC technology, businesses and governments can automate ID verification processes, making them faster, more reliable, and less vulnerable to fraud. As digital transformation continues, NFC-based identity verification is poised to become the standard for secure and efficient authentication.
ID Documents compatible with Smartphone NFC Technology
Many countries and organizations have adopted chip-based ID documents to enhance security and combat fraud. The following ID types commonly support NFC verification:
- Biometric passports
- Identity cards
- Driving licenses
- Resident permits
- Visas
How it works?
NFC technology allows a smartphone to act as a reader for digital identification. The process is straightforward:
- The smartphone generates an electromagnetic field when placed near the NFC-enabled ID document.
- The chip within the document transmits stored information to the smartphone.
- The smartphone reads and processes the data for verification (like name, date of birth, and other details) . This technology eliminates the need for manual data entry, reducing errors and expediting authentication processes.
The advantages of using NFC technology for ID verification
Smartphone NFC-powered identity authentication offers numerous advantages for both individuals and businesses.
- Ease of Use: Verifying ID is as effortless as tapping an ID document against a smartphone. With most modern smartphones supporting NFC, this technology is widely accessible to users.
- Enhanced Security: NFC-based authentication is among the most secure verification methods, as NFC chips are resistant to tampering.
- Fraud Detection: NFC technology can instantly identify counterfeit documents, significantly reducing fraud risks.
- Rapid Processing: The quick tap-to-verify method accelerates identity verification, leading to lower customer fall off rates.
Companies that are leveraging smartphone NFC technology for ID verification:
iDenfy: Focused on bringing flexibility and power to any customer onboarding process through NFC verification to automate compliance, optimize the verification process, and provide a seamless, secure, and stress-free user experience. iDenfy can verify identities in an average of 40 seconds.
Lloyds Bank: Integrated NFC passport scanning into its mobile banking app in 2023. The main reason for introducing the technology was to speed up the application process and reduce any risk of human error.
Verifai: Confirms that ePassports and eIDs are authentic at government level through a quick tap-to-verify ID check. Streamlining customer onboarding and verification process.
IDnow: Offers AI-driven ID verification solutions that leverage NFC technology for secure authentication.
NFC digital verification for Know Your Customer (KYC) compliance
Smartphone NFC technology is being used for Know Your Customer (KYC) verification and compliance processes. It provides a seamless and smart solution to verify documents of customers in the banking, asset management, and other financial service institutions quickly and accurately. KYC is a legal requirement in these regulated industries. Transitioning from manually inputting verification details to simply tapping a form of ID with smartphone NFC technology, which then auto populates data fields within an app, significantly saves company administration time, enhances security, and improves user experience.
It doesn’t stop at ID verification
Sentry Interactive’s hardware agnostic solution for NFC mobile access uses the smartphone as an active NFC reader and credential. In the exact same way that an ID verification application would read an ID document embedded with an NFC chip, the smartphone generates an electromagnetic field when placed next to the Smart Access Tile, a passive NFC tag that is applied next to a door.
By using the smartphone as the reader and credential, Sentry Interactive leverages the most up-to-date security protocols associated with iOS and Android devices, plus multi-factor authentication. Moreover, the cloud service that the smartphone communicates with following the NFC data transmission is encrypted at rest.
Get in touch to find out how you can turn your mobile phone into a reader and credential.
