Nuance deploys voice biometrics authentication solution at Tatra Bank

Nuance Communications has announced that Tatra Bank has deployed Nuance’s FreeSpeech voice biometrics solution to authenticate its customers.

Before contracting Nuance, Tatra’s customers had to prove their identity by scanning a card with a card reader before going on with their call. Now, with the Nuance system, customers are authenticated by the sound of their voice, without passwords or pins. According to the company, this takes about 10 to 15 seconds.

Since the Nuance system has become a part of the workflow, 90,000 customers have registered their unique voice print.

“We’re seeing unprecedented global interest in biometrics for user authentication, and voice biometrics in particular offers a solution for the enterprise that is both secure and convenient, and which simplifies the first point of customer service contact – currently a common frustration point for so many consumers,” Robert Weideman, executive vice president and general manager of the Nuance Enterprise Division said. “Organizations like Tatra Banka are able to deliver a much more convenient and secure experience to their consumers by simply engaging them in conversation to authenticate, as opposed to requiring special hardware, passwords or PINS. The entire experience becomes smoother for both the consumer and the agent, an added benefit beyond the security.”

Nuance will be showcasing its voice biometrics solutions, including what’s been deployed at Tatra Bank, at this week Opus Voice Biometrics Conference.

Banks have so far been particularly rapid adopters of voice biometrics solutions, and Tatra is the latest to join in this growing trend.

BiometricUpdate.com recently took a look an extended look at voice biometrics as a modality, including some early examples, as well as an exploration of potential developments and innovations. Read the full feature here.

Also, based on a survey conducted by Nuance Communications, smartphone users have grown frustrated with current authentication methods and 90% of them are eager to use voice biometrics in place of existing methods.

The overall market for voice and face biometrics is expected to reach nearly $3 billion by the end of 2018. Currently, the United States accounts for the largest share of these markets, though according to a recently-published report, most of the anticipated growth in the market will come from emerging economies, with Asia-Pacific getting special mention in that regard.

In addition, the Biometrics Research Group has noted that mobile devices are expected to drive the bank adoption of voice biometrics, and has also pinpointed that Asia is expected to lead the growth in biometric banking applications.

The group previously estimated the total revenue for biometrics supplied to the global banking sector would total US$900 million by the end of 2012. 

 

Article Topics

authentication  |  banking  |  Nuance Communications  |  voice