Yoti wins biometric selfie-based student ID contract with Scottish college

Yoti has introduced digital identity cards for students of one of Scotland’s biggest colleges, New College Lanarkshire, which has an enrollment of about 15,000.

To be lodged on the student’s phone, the ID can be obtained by setting up an account using the Yoti app and adding the student’s photo, phone number and PIN, a student email address and a biometric selfie to verify the student’s identity with facial recognition. Once created, the ID can be updated in real time.

The process is smooth and contactless as it does not require any queuing up by the students to take photos for the printing of plastic cards like was the case before, the company said.

The adoption of the new digital IDs, according to Yoti, was prompted by the coronavirus pandemic which made it not only risky health wise but also expensive for the college to produce the physical cards.

Students can show the IDs from their phone home screen but cannot be able to edit information that has already been authenticated. In the event of graduation or change of institution nonetheless, the ID can be withdrawn by the college authorities, Yoti explains.

Yoti has provided digital identity services in the past to diverse institutions including football clubs, health faculties and business establishments.

Goodlord unveils tenant referencing with biometrics for agents

Goodlord, a London-based real estate technology provider, says it is putting in place a new facial recognition system that will facilitate the process of tenant referencing by letting agents, Letting AgentTODAY reports.

The new feature is an upgrade to Goodlord’s existing referencing system which will use photos taken from a facial recognition process to match them with photos of the tenant’s photo on their ID using an authentication service, the report states.

The new biometrics feature is added to Goodlord’s four service tiers for tenant and guarantor referencing, which avail the agent of services adapted to their needs. Some of the four-tier services, according to the report, include facial recognition technology as part of a new open banking and fraud analysis technology option.

According to Kat Wynne-Ellis, Goodlord’s head of referencing, the innovation is prompted by the constant shift in the kind of services customers are looking for.

“With the constant shift in customers’ expectations, the evolving regulatory landscape, and the possibilities afforded by technology, our customers can’t afford for us to stand still. With reduced capacity for in-person appointment, features such as facial recognition are more important than ever for ensuring safe, compliant lettings,” Letting AgentTODAY quoted the official as saying.

Goodlord has reportedly increased its referencing team following a growing demand for its services.

Article Topics

biometric identification  |  biometrics  |  digital identity  |  facial recognition  |  identity verification  |  Yoti