Onfido acquires Airside Mobile

Automated identity verification firm, Onfido, has acquired Airside Mobile, Inc., which specialises in private, digital identity sharing technology. Adam Tsao, founder of Airside, will lead the group within Onfido as General Manager.

Airside’s shareable digital identity technology has been used by over 10m travellers and is trusted by major US government agencies, including the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Its customers include the world’s largest airlines, who allow passengers to use the Airside Digital Identity App to fast-track passengers through US airports.

Onfido said that Airside’s privacy-first identity management technology, combined with its own verification, enables a ‘verify once, use anywhere’ world, where customers can manage their own digital identity stored on their smartphone, using it to access new services without having to verify again. This, it said, will transform user experiences across travel, financial services, eCommerce, internet platforms and more, redefining the process of identity verification. The integration will enable businesses to create a seamless user experience that supports more effective onboarding and expanded customer relationships, while reducing fraud and minimizing the liability associated with handling sensitive data.

It added that millions of consumers from over 195 countries will soon be able to use their digital identities with Onfido’s network of over 900 business partners, giving them instant access to a vast range of products and services. For example, a traveller sharing their digital ID to gain expedited access through an airport security checkpoint will soon be able to re-use the same digital ID to access a rental car or hotel room without waiting in line. The whole identity –  from date of birth, address, ID number, etc, or simply parts of it – could then also be used to open a trading account, apply for a mortgage or even, one day, vote.

“Until now, identity verification has digitized physical processes, but those processes haven’t changed,” said Onfido CEO, Mike Tuchen. “We’re still handing our identity over to be checked every time we access a new service. This partnership will change that, giving users control and organizations greater confidence in who their customers are. We plan to take Airside’s proven approach to the  airline industry and apply it to other sectors requiring high customer assurance, such as financial services, providing a single, trusted view of each customer’s identity.”