Finnish postal service plans biometric authentication pilot with SisuID

Finnish state mail and logistics services company Posti is planning to pilot a scheme to identify customers both in person and online with biometric selfie and document checking through the SisuID authentication app or a kiosk, the companies have announced.

Current methods of authentication in Finland allow for people to retrieve packages from post offices on behalf of the intended recipient, but due to a lack of technical support for digitalization and a lack of legal support for transferring authorization, the process is one of many which Posti has not yet been able to automate, according to the announcement. In a Sandbox of Trust project, Posti serves as the registration point for the digital identity, with a kiosk for biometric and document data collection, or a clerk scanning the customer’s passport. After that, the registered individual uses the SisuID mobile app for self-service, for parcel lockers or potentially online accounts.

The service could be used for notice of address change, or to provide federated identification to entities such as home insurance providers.

“Currently, Posti cannot identify persons online or in the physical service points with sufficient effectiveness or cost-efficiency. Different players in the logistics environment need a commonly used digital authentication solution that could connect an individual to all services, rights, and personal data of the person,” says Raine Westerholm, head of Payment Services, Digital Commerce at Posti.

Posti also provides payments through the OmaPosti app, which SisuID can be used with to meet the new strong customer authentication requirements of PSD2.

SisuID is an initiative created by Digital Living International, Suomen Tilaajavastuu, and the Sandbox of Trust, which is led by cybersecurity company Nixu. The partnership was funded by Finish Innovation Fund Sitra, and launched a project with Finavia and Finnair last month.

SisuID is seeking funding to start production and create a cooperative partnership including Posti, which would then support the adoption of SisuID by its users.

“The Sandbox of Trust initiative is rapidly developing SisuID through pilot projects. We have major public and private players involved in testing their requirements for the new authentication application. SisuID is expected to be rolled out to production in early 2020,” says Joonatan Henriksson, head of Digital Business at Nixu Corporation.

Article Topics

authentication  |  biometrics  |  facial recognition  |  identity document  |  identity verification  |  kiosk  |  mobile app  |  Nixu  |  SisuID