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Understanding Electronic Identity Verification (eIDV)

By AiPrise
4 Dec, 2024
6 min read

Verifying someone's identity is more challenging than ever in today's digital world. Fraudsters are becoming smart by using the latest technology, which indicates that companies must stay one step ahead to protect themselves and their customers. Online transactions and digital services are increasing, so you must find reliable identity verification methods. Without that, you risk yourself to identity theft and financial loss.

In 2023, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reported over 1.4 million identity theft cases. One of the best ways to mitigate this problem is to use electronic identity verification (eIDV). This technology is important because it validates individuals' identities in real time with trusted databases and ensures that they are the same as they say.

If you want to explore the concept of electronic identity verification, you are in the right place. Here, you will explore how eIDV works, its benefits, and the various methods for verifying identities. We'll compare eIDV to manual verification, discuss its applications across industries, and highlight businesses' challenges when implementing it. By the end of this guide, you will get the insights needed to make informed decisions in the digital age.

What Is Electronic Identity Verification (eIDV)?

Electronic Identity Verification (eIDV) is a digital process that confirms an individual or business's identity by cross-referencing with trusted sources. Unlike traditional methods, eIDV enables real-time validation through online platforms, so it is faster and more convenient.

eIDV collects personal information such as names, addresses, and dates of birth and compares it to records from various public and private databases. The system checks whether the individual or business is real, helps reduce the risk of fraud, and ensures compliance with regulatory standards.

For example, when a person opens a new bank account or applies for a loan, eIDV can instantly verify their identity by checking their name, address, and credit history. This process is essential for businesses to improve security, speed up customer onboarding, and protect customers and themselves from fraud.

How Does The E-Identity System Work?

This verification system is a crucial tool for businesses to verify identities. It combines various technologies and deepens into a trusted database to check the authenticity of these individuals and companies. Partnering with providers like AiPris offers several advantages, as you can verify this information from hundreds of databases.   

1. General Steps Of The Eidv Process

The eIDV has a systematic method to verify identity and mitigate the risk of fraud. Here's a breakdown of the general procedure:

  • Data Collection: First, it gathers basic information from the individual or business, such as name, date of birth, address, and government-issued identification numbers (e.g., Social Security number or business registration details).
  • Data Comparison: The following process is to compare them with various trusted data sources such as credit bureaus, government databases, or other financial institutions to validate the identity.
  • Risk Assessment: After the data comparison, the system performs a risk assessment. If everything matches, the identity is verified. The system may flag the case for further review or verification if the data do not match.
  • Final Verification: Once the identity is validated, the individual or business can proceed with the transaction, account creation, or service access, often in real time.

2. Key Technologies Used In Eidv

eIDV uses several technologies to check the identity verification process. Some of the key technologies are:

  • Optical Character Recognition (OCR): OCR technology can extract text from scanned images of documents, such as IDs or passports, and allow systems to read and verify the data.
  • Biometric Authentication: Facial recognition, fingerprint scanning, and voice recognition are common biometric identity verification methods. These technologies ensure that the person is real and matches the records.
  • Artificial Intelligence (AI): AI can help analyze extensive data, detect inconsistencies, and make quick decisions. Machine learning models can identify patterns of fraudulent behavior or false identities. Advanced analytics provided by solutions like AiPrise offer quick decision-making and enhanced accuracy.

Now that we've explored how eIDV functions, let's dive into how it can directly benefit your organization and transform your operations.

How Does Electronic Identity Verification Benefit Your Organization?

Electronic verification improves your security and operational efficiency. Using digital technologies for identity checks, eIDV enables organizations to streamline their verification processes and ensure compliance with regulations. Let's explore the key advantages eIDV can bring to your organization.

  • Improve Security Measures: One of the most significant benefits of this technology is its ability to improve security. Traditional verification methods are prone to error or manipulation. When you use eIDV, you verify identities in real-time against trusted data sources, reducing the risk of fraud. This is important because this technology ensures only legitimate users gain access to sensitive services or data.
  • Convenience For Users And Organizations: eIDV benefits organizations and offers a better user experience. Traditional verification requires physical presence or paperwork submission. The latest technologies, like electronic verification, eliminate these barriers and allow users to verify their identity quickly and remotely. This faster onboarding improves customer satisfaction and helps businesses avoid customer frustration.
  • Cost-Effectiveness: Manual identity verification may be time-consuming and costly. This method requires extra staff and paperwork, and sometimes, there are delays or errors. Electronic identity verification reduces these costs by automating the verification process. Automation reduces human error and ensures more accurate and efficient verification. Platforms like AiPrise can automate processes to reduce costs and increase accuracy.
  • Compliance With Regulatory Standards: Compliance with regulations like AML and KYC is unavoidable in industries like finance and healthcare. eIDV helps businesses meet these requirements by providing robust, auditable identity verification processes. It ensures that organizations adhere to legal guidelines and can easily track compliance efforts.
  • Scalability To Handle Large Volumes: As businesses grow, so does the volume of identity verification requests. Manual methods may struggle to keep up, leading to delays and inefficiencies. eIDV can handle large volumes of verifications without compromising speed or accuracy. This is important for organizations to maintain efficiency, even during peak periods or as they expand.

Now that you know how eIDV can benefit your organization, let's examine how it compares to old-school manual verification.

Comparing E-Identity Verification And Manual Verification

Companies can choose between two methods for identity verification: manual and electronic. While both methods aim to confirm the legitimacy of individuals or entities, they differ in many ways, such as efficiency, security, cost, and scalability.

Speed And Efficiency

  • E-Verification: eIDV offers faster service due to its automation process that can verify identities in real-time. It uses digital technologies to cross-check personal information against trusted databases.
  • Manual Verification: This method is slow compared to the automated process. You must collect physical documents (like passports, IDs, or utility bills), review them manually, and sometimes contact third parties for validation.

Accuracy And Security

  • E- Verification: This method uses advanced algorithms and data-matching techniques to reduce human error. Electronic identification also uses biometric scanning (fingerprint or facial recognition), machine learning(ML), and artificial intelligence (AI) to verify identities. It improves accuracy and minimizes the risk of fraud.
  • Manual Verification: Manual verification is prone to human error, sometimes leading to incorrect verifications. Additionally, if a document is forged or tampered with, it is harder to detect fraudulent identities. While manual checks can be thorough, they often lack precision and speed.

Cost

  • E- Verification: Although the initial setup is costly for eIDV, the ongoing costs are generally lower than those of manual verification. Once you implement this method, eIDV can handle large volumes of verification requests with minimal additional resources. Here, you need only limited staff or physical infrastructure that saves lots of money in the future.
  • Manual Verification: Manual verification is costly as it needs time and human resources. It requires dedicated personnel to review documents, cross-check information, and resolve discrepancies. As verification volumes increase, a business must appoint additional staff, leading to higher operational costs.

Scalability

  • E- Verification: As your business grows, the eIDV system can handle larger volumes of verification requests without many additional resources. This is useful for organizations experiencing high transaction volumes, seasonal spikes, or global expansion. Solutions like AiPrise ensure businesses can efficiently handle increased verification needs.
  • Manual Verification: Scalability is challenging with manual verification. When verification requests increase, businesses must add staff and need time to maintain the process. This makes the verification slower and increases the risk of errors.

Customer Experience (CX)

  • E- Verification: Electronic verification improves the customer experience (CX) because it is quick and easy. Customers can complete identity verification at their convenience using devices like mobile apps or websites.
  • Manual Verification: Manual verification is inconvenient for customers because they must submit physical documents or wait long to confirm their identity. Delays and the need for follow-up can lead to frustration, which may result in abandoned applications or lost business.

Comparison Between E-Verification And Manual Verification

So, what's making electronic verification the go-to choice for various industries? Let's dive into its widespread applications.

Applications Of Electronic Identity Verification (eIDV)

Electronic Identity Verification is becoming more important in various industries due to its security, efficiency, and regulatory compliance. Initially, this technology was used in banking and financial services but expanded into healthcare, insurance, and e-commerce sectors. Let's look at how this technology is applied in different industries and what its role is in regulatory adherence.

  1. Banking And Financial Services: It is very important in banking and financial services as it verifies customers' identities quickly and securely. It streamlines processes like account opening, loan applications, and credit checks. With this process, banks can offer remote onboarding and verify customers' identities online.
  2. KYC And AML Regulations: The eIDV process is essential for compliance with Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) regulations. These regulations clearly explain that financial institutions must check customers' identities to prevent money laundering and fraud. Automating the process reduces the risk of penalties or legal issues.
  3. Expansion Into Other Sectors: At first, the banking and financial sectors used this more, but now this has changed. In healthcare, it verifies patient identities, particularly in telemedicine. In insurance, eIDV speeds up policy issuance by verifying applicants' identities, reducing fraud. For e-commerce, it prevents fraud during online transactions. Telecommunications can secure new account registrations and service activations.

Have you learned the application method? Now, let's see the types of verification methods.

Types Of Electronic Identity Verification Methods

Electronic Identity Verification (eIDV) uses several methods to verify identities securely and efficiently. These methods range from document verification to biometric checks, each serving a specific purpose in ensuring accuracy and preventing fraud.

  1. Verification Using Photo ID And NFC: This method scans government-issued IDs, such as passports or driver's licenses. Later, it uses Near Field Communication (NFC) technology to verify the document's authenticity. The system checks the embedded security features in the ID and checks if there is any problem with the document.
  2. Biometric Verification: Biometric verification uses facial recognition with AI algorithms to match a person's face with a database or an ID photo. This method is highly accurate and ensures the person undergoing verification is the same as the one on the document. AI has the speed and reliability in this process, making it one of the most secure identity verification methods available.
  3. Database Lookups And Cross-Referencing: This method involves cross-referencing the submitted identity details with trusted external databases like AiPrise. It helps verify personal information against reliable sources in real time. With this method, a business can increase the accuracy and trustworthiness of the verification process.
  4. Watchlists And Sanctions: eIDV systems may check individuals against global watchlists, sanctions lists, and politically exposed persons (PEP) databases. This is vital for compliance with anti-money laundering (AML) regulations and ensures the person is not involved in illegal activities or financial crimes.
  5. SSN Checks And Proof Of Address Verification: Social Security Number (SSN) verification and proof of address checks ensure the identity matches the person's official records. This method lets you check utility bills or bank statements to confirm residential address details. These methods provide an additional verification level by matching multiple forms of personal information to ensure accuracy.

But before adopting these solutions, let's consider some of the possible challenges and drawbacks of eIDV.

Challenges And Potential Drawbacks Of Eidv

Like every method, this verification has its challenges and drawbacks. These challenges can impact businesses and consumers, especially regarding privacy, accuracy, and accessibility.

  • Consumer Privacy: A major concern with eIDV is privacy breaches. Consumers may feel uneasy about sharing personal data, such as biometric information or government-issued ID details, with online platforms. The storage and handling of sensitive data raise questions about how securely it is kept and who has access to it. Without robust data protection, data misuse or unauthorized access is risky. This is important to gain consumer trust.
  • Risks No-Match: The eIDV uses the latest technology, but there is still a chance of errors. A slight variation in a person's name, address, or photo could result in a mismatch. This leads to flagging legitimate users and customer frustration. Manual intervention is vital to resolve the issue. Sometimes, a no-match response might even prevent a user from accessing essential services altogether.
  • Limit Individuals With Minimal Digital Presence: This verification method relies on digital footprints, such as government records, credit histories, and online activity. Individuals with limited or no digital presence may face difficulties in the verification. This can create barriers for specific populations, especially in developing regions that may be less familiar with digital technologies.

The challenges associated with electronic identity verification methods can be tough to navigate—but let's not lose hope just yet; AiPrise has solutions up its sleeve!

AiPrise eIDV Solutions

Electronic identity verification (eIDV) is an important method for businesses to improve security, streamline onboarding, and comply with regulations. Its automation reduces fraud risks and ensures businesses can trust their customers' identities. 

eIDV uses diverse documents like passports, IDs, and other government-issued documents to check their authenticity. Partnering with AiPrise gets access to these data and hundreds of databases for more accuracy, mitigating the chances of falling into trouble.

Learn more about maintaining accuracy with our vast data now. Book a demo with AiPrise experts for more details on electronic identity verification.