Next Biometrics fingerprint tech deployed in mobile printer for financial inclusion in India

Next Biometrics announced a new integration of its biometric fingerprint technology in a mobile printer that supports social and financial inclusion in India, in its first Insights update written by Next Biometrics’ CEO Peter Heuman.

BluPrints develops the Integrated Mobile Printer Series dubbed “Vriddhi” which uses Bluetooth to help communities in semi-urban and rural parts of India. The all-in-one wireless device features Aadhaar-enabled biometrics integrated with a thermal printer to support various business use cases in banking, financial inclusion, eKYC, public distribution and e-governance.

Prior to the all-in-one system, three separate devices were used to perform these services: a smartphone or a tablet, a STQC-certified fingerprint scanner and a mobile printer. Thanks to the integration with a STQC qualified fingerprint module developed by Next Biometrics, Vriddhi can replace other devices and be easily deployed in the UIDAI ecosystem.

“Vriddhi provides a cost effective, hassle free, easy to use integrated one stop solution replacing the use of two different devices,” said Kavita Aggarwal, Founder & CEO of BluPrints, in a prepared statement. “Vriddhi will instantly maximize productivity at a lower cost. The device is an easy plug & play solution for Aadhaar enabled applications encompassing enrolment, verification, and identification to speed up credit finance and digital inclusion of the unbanked population in the rural hinterlands.”

“We are pleased to have been integrated in this novel solution from BluPrints and to be part of the ‘Digital India Program’ supporting Aadhaar-enabled biometric authentication,” Peter Heuman, Next Biometrics’ CEO, said in the announcement. “The collaboration with BluPrints is an important step for NEXT to enable long-term growth, with local hardware manufactures, providing smart biometric products and solutions supporting the digital initiative by the Government of India. We look forward to this solution providing great value for BluPrints, Next Biometrics and the end users in India.”

Next Biometrics also reported today that its restructuring plan is progressing well and that while the company has not provided guidance on future revenues, it notes that revenues in Q3 2020 will be higher than the level achieved in Q2 2020. Next Biometrics reported improvements in its sales pipeline and revenues of NOK 13.6 million (US$1.5 million) in Q2.

“Management has implemented the restructuring plan that will provide a leaner and more customer focused operation,” says Peter Heuman, CEO of NEXT Biometrics. “The plan has largely been completed. With the recent completion of equity issues raising more than NOK 60 million we have sufficient funds to implement our ambition to transform NEXT to become a commercially focused technology company with a tangible growth agenda.”

In June, the company entered a $417,400-contract for biometric fingerprint scanners with the government of South Indian state Tamil Nadu to improve living standards.

Article Topics

Aadhaar  |  authentication  |  biometric identification  |  biometrics  |  financial inclusion  |  fingerprint biometrics  |  fingerprint sensors  |  India  |  Next Biometrics