5 Digital Identification Trends That Are Changing the World

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

Passwords are a remnant of a bygone era of digital interaction. As technology continues to improve our lives, developments are constantly being made. Unfortunately, while we have outgrown many of the pitfalls of the early digital age, passwords remain as prominently in use as ever. This presents us with a technological bottleneck that throttles the potential of the interconnected, digital world. Many companies have tried to take a novel approach to change the ethos and upending the status quo regarding ID verification. Apple has FaceID. Microsoft has been making strides with its ‘hello’ features, designed to use biometric data to unlock devices.

The problem is that these approaches are just additional layers built on top of traditional password security measures. To truly revolutionize the way we approach online security, we need a fundamentally new system of verification technology. It just so happens that we exist in an age that offers the technological solutions that would allow us to implement tools to overcome the challenge presented.

The next step is the wide-scale adoption of verification methods that utilize this technology. Ideally, we could enjoy a digital experience in which eIDs supplant passwords and other cumbersome authentication methods. The benefits in e-commerce and other sectors are increasingly appealing and are acting as the driving force behind the popularization of the eID technology available to us.

A Simplified Online Shopping Experience

Ideally, your online shopping experience should be as convenient as possible. This is, after all, the appeal. You won’t need to leave your house or go in search of the best deals by driving from store to store. In theory, online shopping is the natural evolution of retail. And it has seen a massive incline in popularity during international lockdown measures. The only problem is that the authentication process can be highly cumbersome.

A typical online shopping experience involves a lengthy registration process the first time you use a new provider. This includes filling a plethora of forms requesting information like your address, the specifics of your country, etc. And this is only the beginning. There is the matter of registering and verifying your payment methods and numerous additional security measures that require you to use multiple devices to verify your identity.

Then there are captchas and DDOS prevention features that further slow the process down. The question is, could one do away with all this? The answer; yes. Electronic identification technology offers the ultimate solution. By simply scanning a code on your physical eID card, a provider receives all the information you would have needed to provide. It also acts as a verification of your identity and payment methods. This technology quite literally cuts out all the fuss.

Unified Physical Identification

How many personal identification documents do you have? You likely have a unique identity document, social security, your driver’s license, and your password. In addition, you may have to keep other necessary documentation at hand. This includes documents that verify your education and qualifications. You may need various forms of identification that grant you access to resources you use at work or demonstrate your access level to important information.

Access, On and Offline

Okay, so you have easy access to your various online platforms, but what are the benefits in your day-to-day interactions? Well, you wouldn’t need multiple bank cards and pins. That already serves as a convenient time saver. But it doesn’t stop there. Consider the possibilities of a single, secure method of gaining access to and verifying your car insurance, home insurance, medical care insurance, or various documents such as shopping receipts for tax purposes, all without keeping any paper records of transactions.

Your Life On a Card

A major revolution in personal information offered by the potential of electronic identification is a complete and unified track record. Imagine going to your local bank to apply for a loan without having to prepare any supporting documentation. This is possible when your entire financial history is linked to a single eID. The same goes for things like your resume. You could apply for a job knowing that your whole educational background, work experience, and other details are available using only your eID.

Medical Care Revolution

eIDs can be linked to all of your medical care needs. Beyond offering a no-hassle solution to verifying your identity for insurance claims, your eID could also be linked to your entire medical history. This would allow you to collect scripts, submit documentation regarding your health to your employer and update your Medicare information with almost no fuss.

Furthermore, in a medical emergency, medical professionals could access your complete medical profile when you cannot provide essential, life-saving information.