German innovator makes online identification fast and secure

With more than 200 business clients and 4.2 million end users, the Berlin-based company WebID is a pioneer in the fields of legally binding online contracts and identifications. The ID technology expert invented the video identification process used all over the world today and boasts its own high-security centre for video identification in Germany – a fact which makes the company entirely unique within the market.

It was Frank Jorga, Visionary and CEO of WebID, who developed the idea of secure video identification: today, it makes life easier for bank customers, amongst many others. Not long ago, a customer would have to go to the local post office or bank to open a new account. WebID now allows them to complete the identification online.“You only need a mobile phone, a computer or tablet to connect to a video call. And that is possible from anywhere in the world,” Frank Jorga explains.

The identification process consists of a five-minute video call with one of the 430 employees of the videoident centre, during which the customer has to show their valid ID for identification. Initially, many customers were sceptical. “Change is always difficult,” says Jorga. When the first bank introduced the service, 90 per cent of customers still went to the local branch for identification and only 10 per cent went online. Today, these numbers are often the other way around. Many large banks and telecommunication companies now use the platform and WebID conducts about 15,000 video identifications per day.

Since its founding, WebID has optimised the videoident process and developed additional products. The driver behind this is a development team headed by CTO Sven Jorga, brother of WebID CEO Frank Jorga, who joined the founder’s team as technology expert.

Security is a main topic: The videoident centre and all servers are located in Germany and the centre is protected by an elaborate security system. The data collected in accordance with data protection laws is guarded by a firewall. Only the users can access their data for further identification within the database, which contains 4.2 million digital identities total. They can use their data in combination with biometric or TAN systems.

The company, founded in 2012, now operates internationally with offices in Switzerland, Austria and India. “We are currently growing into the US market,” says Frank Jorga. To continue the growth process, WebID has developed the Global Trust Technology Platform (GTTP), which enables the connection of in-house developments and external ones, thus allowing for unique and individual solutions.