Selfie authentication: more agile and secure customer onboarding
Selfie authentication is here to stay. Once merely a form of entertainment, today selfies can be used to prove one's identity. This is especially true when it comes to companies that provide services in fully digital environments.
We are in a new era. Technology is increasingly advancing over areas that until recently were inaccessible. This can be proven by the number of solutions that a smartphone offers. They are calculators, agendas, calendars, meeting tools, bank branches, Face-ID, biometrics, artificial intelligence, in short, a series of digital tools that make life easier for people and allow them to use time for more important activities. Among these tools, we must not forget biometrics.
In this way, it is possible to register online, open bank accounts, enroll in courses or exams. Even airlines are using this technology at airport check-ins.
In China, it's common for people to pay their bills at establishments just by showing their faces to the cameras. In fact, it is in this country where facial recognition technology is most advanced. But the expansion of selfie authentication to the Western hemisphere is a trend that is increasingly solidified.
Examples of situations where selfie authentication is a good solution
Uma Municipal school in Santa Catarina, for example, is testing the technology. All students have their photos registered and when they arrive at the classroom, they position themselves in front of the camera to have their presence registered. This authentication in the school environment also allows cooks to know exactly how many students are present on the day and thus prepare the amount of food appropriate to that number, without waste.
The time required to issue credit cards at giant retail stores that use the technology has been reduced abruptly. Consultations to the system for granting credit and telephone contacts became practically unnecessary.
The online shopping process is also being impacted by facial biometrics. Thus, to avoid fraud, e-commerce companies can ask people for some type of authentication and, oddly enough, selfie authentication is one of the most chosen by consumers.
Granting credit and opening bank accounts is one of the activities in which facial biometrics is widely used. It is no longer necessary for the customer to be physically at the branch to obtain a credit for the purchase of a vehicle, for example, it is enough that at the dealership, after receiving an order from the bank, via SMS or e-mail, the customer takes a selfie and sends it to the financial institution.
Selfie authentication in electronic contracts
The signing of contracts, when done remotely, can use some tools to certify to the parties that the person who signs is really who they say they are. Selfie authentication is one of those tools. Because of the security it guarantees, companies are better protected against fraud or other types of scams. This is already used, for example, in contracts concluded by real estate agencies.
We will now present some tips for you to take the selfie for registration.
1 - Observe the amount of light in the place
The secret of every photograph is the amount of light present in the environment. But don't sin by exaggeration. Professional lighting equipment is not required to take a selfie. Too much light even gets in the way. But also, space can't be dark.
Many errors in photographs can be easily solved with the features present in digital imaging applications. But sometimes, especially for laypeople, these adjustments can be boring and too slow. So if the selfie is already taken properly, an important step has already been solved.
2 - Avoid using flash for selfie authentication
Flash should be avoided as much as possible, as it causes the effect of “red eyes” and causes reflection on documents, especially plasticized ones, which can hinder facial recognition. Therefore, only make use of this feature when there are no other better lighting solutions.
3 - Strong shadows on or behind the face can hinder selfie authentication
When we spoke earlier about taking care of the light, this also means paying attention to the shadows. That way, make sure that the light source doesn't cause very strong shadows on your face, or on any surface in the background. While it's not the biggest reason you should be concerned, this is important because it can hinder validation tools.
4 - Observe the hue
Pay attention to the tonality of the images. It is important not to use filters that appear to age, as this may impair the recognition of the face by the facial biometry tool. If what was requested is the document photo and it is already old and discolored, you can apply a filter to prioritize contrast. But be careful not to have pixelation, because it can impair recognition.
5 - Take care of the appearance, framing, and pose
It may seem obvious, but images with your eyes closed or with your hair in front of your eyes have no value in selfie authentication. The pose is also important. You may have a favorite one, but the front photo is still the best for recognizing your face by algorithms.
Also, try to leave your face in the center of the frame. Thus, the highlight is what is most important for the photograph. Also, try to depollute the background. The fewer objects there are, the better.
6 - Try to see if there are no blemishes on document photos
In some registrations it is necessary to send an image of a document containing your photo. Then, check the quality that this document is in. Because, if there is any stain, this may impair selfie authentication.
With these tips, your selfie authentications will be much faster and better. Good use of the tool.
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