Use Cases Of Face Verification Systems Across Multiple Industries

The earlier iterations of face verification systems were developed in the 1960s. It was a rudimentary attempt to teach a computer so that it can distinguish between different human faces depending on the subtle, differentiating features. Since then, the system has become more efficient and accurate, thanks to advances in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. Carrying immense potential for automating crucial tasks, it took industries a little time to incorporate face verification tools in their operations.

Now, it is widely used for verifying identities, especially in the banking sector, and ensuring effective compliance with the KYC and AML guidelines

These use cases paint a vivid picture to understand the scope and capabilities of these systems.

Customs – Schengen’s Biometric Border Control

Conventionally, the Schengen Area of mainland Europe has no border control for the residents of its 26 member states. For non-EU citizens, a manual visa allocation system is in place with no centralized database to monitor the entrance or exits of visitors.

Now, LISA (Large IT Systems Agency) has a development underway that will allowauthorities to keep tabs on the entry and exit of visitors through biometric data, abolishing the need for manual visa stamping. Europol is entrusted as the regulatory watchdog of this project to ensure the privacy and fair usage of the data. The project is expected to be functional around 2022.

Banking – NAB’s Contactless Cash Withdrawal

Even to this day, cash withdrawals in most parts of the world depend on card swipes and PINs in the ATM. Although there are many security measures in place, the system is not impregnable and often exploited by skimmers.

National Bank Of Australia and Microsoft Australia took the initiative in 2018 for withdrawing cash from an ATM through facial recognition. The test run was successful with all the biometric data stored on a cloud and readily accessed by the machine.

Events – MLB Biometric Entry Tickets

It is an administrative challenge to ensure only legit ticket holders enter an arena. Digital ticketing has come a long way and is now at the helm of issuing and verifying tickets at the stadia. Still, it was challenging to identify intruders that somehow managed to enter the premises without going through face verification kiosks.

Major League Baseball (MLB) has introduced biometric face verification systems for entry in the arenas, as well as for refreshment payments and age validation. It is currently in the partner stadia but will soon expand to other venues.

Leisure – Marriot Hotel Check-In

The hotel check-in system is inefficient these days requiring dedicated staff to do the tasks that could have been easily automated for a seamless entry of the clients. During holidays and events, it takes a long time to move from the curb to your suite.

Marriott Hotel in China has installed face verification systems in two of its locations. The incoming guests can check-in from the kiosk and it takes around a minute. This allows establishments to improve user experience through automation.

E-Commerce – Mastercard Selfie Pay

Sellers and buyers in the E-commerce domain have been complaining about the inadequacy of current e-payment tools. The long, arduous ordeal of entering and verifying payment details often prompts customers to abandon a transaction before it is even completed. Sellers, in turn, lose revenue.

Mastercard, in 2016, introduced Selfie Pay, a face verification tool that allowed users to verify and authenticate their identity through their smartphones.  All they needed to do was to upload a selfie and this would cover verification for the retailer as well as the card-issuing authority.

Gambling – Australia’s Crown Casino Self-Exclusion Program

Problem gamblers can give their consent to the casinos to be barred from locations. Before automation, it was done through manned observation but now face verification systems have come to the fore to do the job.

Australia’s Crown Casino has incorporated a smart system in place that allows it to monitor incoming patrons. The system tallies the face of the entrants against the entries in the database and alerted authorities if there is a positive ID. It is so efficient and well-calibrated that it can even identify a person of interest even their face is not clearly seen by the scanners.

Academics – Victoria’s Face Recognition System

It is necessary to keep tabs on the whereabouts of kids when they are inside a school. Traditionally, it was done through attendance in classrooms but now the face recognition system has come forward to help the educators.

Victoria, Australia has incorporated biometric tools with a dedicated application to know where a particular student is at a given time. The system can further be integrated to streamline the book-lending database at the libraries.

Closing Remarks

When it comes to digital face verification versus manual regimen, a tremendous difference in terms of accuracy, cost, and efficiency have been observed in favor of the former. In the coming years, the market is expected to secure over 21% CAGR which points to astronomical growth of the sector in the foreseeable future. With its application in a wide range of processes, the adoption of this technology is increasing with more industries ready to embrace it to improve user experience without compromising on regulatory and compliance guidelines.