DocuSign, already the leader in the eSignature market, has launched a new service in Europe, ID Verification for EU Qualified. The new digital identity verification (IDV) solution is AI-powered and meets compliance requirements across the EU and the UK for Qualified Electronic Signatures (QES). QES typically requires face-to-face identification (or the equivalent). It is the “or equivalent” that DocuSign is aiming to address with this new solution.
IDV promises to confirm the identity of individuals using AI without the need for time-intensive video, in-person checks, or perhaps physical document exchanges. Theoretically, it should enable organisations across different industries to complete compliance checks faster, improving efficiency and customer satisfaction.
The new service also complies with pan-European identity proofing standards set out by the ETSI, a European Standards Organization (ESO) and local, regional cyber security agencies, like ANSSI in France.
Allan Thygesen, Chief Executive Officer of DocuSign, commented, “Europe continues to be a key priority for DocuSign, and the launch of IDV for EU Qualified as a homegrown European solution is yet another sign of our strong commitment to the region. Trust, security and simplicity are the cornerstones of everything we do, and this latest IDV offering is a perfect example of how we bring these principles to life for our customers.”
How does the solution work?
The solution works within the existing eSignature workflow, ensuring the process is familiar and streamlined. It also is a self-service process that allows individuals to do it at their leisure, rather than wait for an appointment, which may not be at a convenient time or location.
They can use their mobile phone to initiate the process.
- They must show their identification document, which the application captures in a photograph, such as a passport.
- Take a short selfie video that includes a minimal amount of head movements to help the verification process.
- These files are then uploaded to the DocuSign platform securely, along with the electronic signature.
- An offline agent will then review the identification, supported by AI, to analyse the video against the ID document. This comparison reduces the chance of fraud from deep fakes or identity spoofing with AI-enabled liveness detection.
- Once completed, the signature is attached to the appropriate document with a digital certificate attached to every signature. Verification status is recorded in the eSignature Certificate of Completion for audit.
DocuSign claims the process takes less than 15 minutes, though that assumes an agent is available to approve the signature, one assumes.
Maxime Hambersin, Senior Director of Product Management International at DocuSign, commented, “Today, more and more business transactions occur online. Providing a simple, secure and trusted way of signing important documents virtually is a top priority for DocuSign. With this innovative solution, organisations can significantly simplify the ID verification process, offering signers a far more frictionless experience without compromising the high-security standards these transactions require.”
Many use cases
DocuSign expects IDV for EU Qualified will help transform the digital ID verification process across multiple industries and markets in Europe and the UK. Industries that can take advantage of this solution include:
- Finance: high-value transaction management and financial documents, like loan agreements or payment orders. With banks closing down across the UK, the ability to attend a bank in person is increasingly limited.
- Insurance: For insurance policies, claim forms, settlement agreements or reinsurance contracts, the new solution will help cut fraud and improve customer service as efficiencies are introduced.
- Housing: Home buying and rental agreements, including witnessing, will speed up the process and improve compliance without adding friction to the process.
- Healthcare: This could enable remote prescription fulfilment and open new business opportunities for delivery services. Healthcare claims, where patients may struggle to use traditional methods of verification. The solution could also help with the verification process for clinical trials.
- Employment: HR agreements and employment contracts.
Enterprise Times: What does this mean
Not only does this announcement signal an improvement for several industries for ID verification. It also opens up the opportunity for reducing fraud in others. There are also potential business opportunities for companies that might want to start up services that have previously required a physical presence and signature, for example, collecting prescriptions.
It will be interesting to see how organisations and entrepreneurs look to use this service. For banks, it provides other opportunities to reduce the number of counter services they operate. For solicitors, it could simplify many legal services that need signatures and ID verification, such as Power of Attorney documents.
