Historically, presenting proof of address was time-consuming. The manual processes used for it resulted in an unpleasant account opening process. Manual screening of identification papers and address validation exposes businesses to the risks of error which can cause unnecessary irritation and delays. Users must locate, look for, and submit ID papers in the correct format to get themselves authorized.
If your company offers online address validation services, it simplifies the process for them. With manual processes, what seems like a quick registration process takes days or in some instances, even weeks. Because there are so many various types of ID papers, document validation criteria might vary a lot, indicating an increased chance of forgery attempts. Hence, online address checker systems can help in this scenario.
Some brain-scratchers about address documents
Lack of defined samples
When you consider how many different sorts of services demand certification of residency, it becomes an issue. It’s simple to understand how difficult it is to evaluate the legitimacy and consistency of an address file when you contemplate all of the different issuers, as well as the numerous types, forms, etc. Depending on the usage, there could be thousands of papers that are theoretically appropriate.
Poor user experience
A new client wants to sign up as quickly as possible so that they can use your platform’s product or service. They don’t want to waste time looking and digging for documents, accurately scanning them, emailing them, and then waiting for them to be approved. The problem is that there aren’t enough standards defined for the document’s format. It leads to user irritation when there are so many document formats and options. Working with paper-based documents in a digital format is very difficult too.
Costs of managing documents
Apart from the risk of inaccuracies and inefficient operations, the expense of doing manual inspections can soon mount up. While screening a few dozen papers a month is feasible, reviewing hundreds or thousands becomes an arduous task. Costs for record-keeping, re-scans, and other paper-related duties should also be taken into consideration here.
Some instances of address validation processes
Residence verification
Address validation is a standard method of confirming one’s identification information. Individuals input their address information, which is then matched to information incorporated on their credit card, utility bills, government-issued documents, and other sources. Address validation guarantees that address data is properly aligned hierarchically for further investigation. If the person has resided at the same address for a long period, address verification may offer a match or no-match indicator.
It’s worth mentioning that the success of this type of match is dependent on the sources being searched having current address information. Verification of address is an important step in ensuring the authenticity of identity verification. An address that matches a known identity connects a person to a geographical area, especially if they have lived there for an extended amount of time. Mobile network provider data is recognized to be the most reliable address information since people are more inclined to maintain their cell phone billing records than other billing channels.
IP address verification
A flood of secret information points is included in the user’s online form. In addition, the IP address can give another geographic data point for proof of address checking. An IP address is a piece of information that determines the interface via which a user connects to the internet. The actual location will then be determined using the IP address.
The supplied address will be evaluated against the IP information to check whether there is a match. Although an IP address might reveal location information, bear in mind that this data isn’t always accurate. People may be linked to a wide network, which redirects them to a non-local system, or they may be utilizing a VPN to conceal their genuine location.
Geolocation verification
Another type of location information that leads to finding out the address is geolocation. The information from GPS is difficult to falsify or change by criminals. It is because it delivers a proximity signal that is generally precise to about 100 meters. Geolocation can prove to be a powerful signal for detecting a certain location. This information can help validate an address and in the detection of scammers.