Acuity report shows border security concerns driving biometrics adoption

Acuity Market Intelligence emphasized that ongoing concerns about national security are driving border authorities to continue the adoption of biometric and digital identification based automation, including the deloypment of airport eGates and kiosks.

“As the Trump administration doubles down on immigration restrictions and promises of ‘extreme vetting,’ the reality is that biometrics are used to scrutinize millions of international travelers across the globe every day,” said Maxine Most, principal at Acuity Market Intelligence. “Digital identification technology, including biometrics, allow immigration and border agencies to reliably vet visitors, immigrants, and refugees and automate border identification and control providing secure facilitation at ports of entry for international travelers worldwide.”

Most’s remarks are in response to the executive order on immigration and refugees President Donald Trump signed on January 27, which also proposed to expedite the completion of a national biometric ID program for non-citizens entering and leaving the U.S.

According to Acuity’s research report, “The Global Automated Border Control Industry Report: Airport eGates and Kiosks”, the global market for airport ABC eGates and kiosks is “dynamic, diverse, and highly dependent on local policies and priorities.”

Unlike related markets like ePassports which are designed to meet specific mandatory global requirements, Airport ABC eGates and kiosks are voluntary programs impacted by international initiatives and standards, according to the report.

The report forecasted that the market’s revenues will exceed $753 million annually by 2018 to reach $1 billion annually by 2020, which represents a 19.5 percent CAGR over the forecast period.

There are 2,143 automated border control (ABC) eGates and 1,436 automated passport control (APC) kiosks currently deployed at more than 163 ports of entry across the globe, which represents a combined CAGR of 37 percent between 2013 to 2016, according to the report.

Acuity anticipates the number of ABC eGates to continue to grow as existing airport deployments expand, new airport deployments come online, and land and seaports increasingly deploy eGates.

Previously reported, Acuity Market Intelligence recently revealed its 2017 ten top trends for biometrics and digital identity, which predicts this year will be groundbreaking for biometrics and digital identity.

Article Topics

ABC gates  |  Acuity  |  biometrics  |  border security  |  digital identity  |  epassport  |  market research  |  Maxine Most