By Dennis Garcés
In 2023, a study conducted by Experian revealed that 74% of respondents perceive physical biometrics as the most secure method for digital identity verification. This finding sends a clear message to companies that are still hesitant to adopt technological advancements due to fear of rejection by their employees.
Digital Identity has evolved over more than 30 years, integrating technological and cultural advancements. Although many perceive the digital ID card as a recent innovation, digital identity initiatives have existed for a long time, such as fingerprint reading and hand recognition. What is truly novel is the current reach of these technologies, which aim to centralize procedures based on a single, legally valid identity at the national or even global level.
The implementation of a Digital ID Card presents significant challenges that go beyond technology, heavily depending on national regulations. This consolidation is crucial for maturing digital processes like Digital Onboarding flows in financial and insurance services. Advances in Artificial Intelligence also demand new forms of identity verification based on behavioral patterns, introducing concepts such as Identity in Depth to strengthen identity detection.
Additional challenges include:
- Combating fraud by AI and Deep Fake.
- Strengthening Digital Onboarding processes.
- Integrating government databases to validate documents using Machine Learning
Success Story: Estonia
A notable example is Estonia, which has digitized 99% of its public services since 1994, making them available 24/7. This achievement is not only technological but also cultural, overcoming challenges to ensure an optimal user experience. Estonia has become a global benchmark in digitalization.
What Awaits Us in the Immediate Future?
Several developments in Digital Identity are anticipated:
Authentication systems that combine multiple methods (user/password and fingerprint, for example) will become increasingly common.
Implementing a unique credential to access systems and services nationally will be a goal for many countries.
- Increasing security without compromising user experience is a short-term challenge.
Beyond cryptocurrencies, the use of blockchain to record access to systems and places will strengthen in the future
These advances promise to transform the way we manage and verify our digital identity, improving security and efficiency across multiple sectors.
