Back in the days when smartphones weren’t sitting in every pocket, verifying identity documents meant scanning a physical ID with a document reader device. If you scanned 1,000 IDs this way, 990 would typically pass without issue, leaving just 10 problematic ones.
Today, the majority of IDs are scanned using mobile devices, shifting the dynamics. Out of 1,000 remote scans, 100 might raise questions and require secondary inspection, with 10 proving to be problematic.
What used to be 10 out of 1,000 is now 10 out of 100. Although document reader devices are doing far fewer scans, the importance of each scan is getting much higher. Moreover, document readers are truly indispensable in the areas where reliable ID verification lays the foundation for public security, such as border control.
The next take might seem counterintuitive, but we learned it from our experience here at Regula:
It’s powerful document authentication software that makes or breaks the effectiveness of document reader devices.
Why is that?
The main complaints from users of ID document readers
The point is perfectly captured by the common quote, "Sell the hole, not the drill." As advanced as they can be, document readers are tools (like drills), while their buyers’ need is to verify identities (make holes). So the complaints can be related (but not limited) to the following aspects:
The workflow isn’t effective enough.
Not all required documents can be read and verified.
Not all use cases are covered.
Integration and fine-tuning is costly.
Let’s go deeper into the details here.
What sets a proper document reader apart from an expensive scanner is its capability to capture and process data in various light sources and resolutions. At a minimum, a document reader should recognize an ID, read the machine-readable zone (MRZ), verify its accuracy, confirm the checksum, read the barcodes, and extract the data from the electronic chip.
To look deeper into the document and prove its authenticity, one needs to know the ID’s specific security features and layouts. This requires deep expertise, as it goes beyond the basic capabilities of document verification software.
Not every manufacturer is ready to invest in developing and maintaining such comprehensive software. The reasons behind this are logical:
→ Creating software for document readers is really expertise-intensive
Document verification is a narrow yet highly nuanced field of expertise, with a critical cost of mistakes. It took Regula two decades to create the world's most inclusive database of document samples, keep it up to date, train systems to run instant checks and cross-checks, and build an infrastructure for regular updates.
→ Development costs are high
The fact is that hardware manufacturers profit from selling devices with superior optics and lighting—features that aim to ensure the best image capture quality. Since further processing and verification of those images isn’t the core functionality, they can license third-party software or provide minimal capabilities to prove authenticity.
Why upgrade your devices with Regula’s ID verification software?
Since document readers are no longer judged solely on their hardware prowess, shifting to superior document reader software like Regula Document Reader SDK for hardware can significantly enhance your identity verification processes.
Here’s why.
Inclusive, works with most readers
Regula’s ID verification software is compatible with nearly all third-party passport readers and ID scanners available on the market. Unlike some solutions that are 100% hardware agnostic—working identically with all hardware— Regula’s ID verification software Document Reader SDK is inclusive, meaning it’s designed to work effectively with any document reader. This inclusivity ensures that no matter the type of hardware you are using, our document authentication software can enhance its performance. And if it’s not yet compatible, our team is willing to go the extra mile to make them work together.
Document verification and authentication is Regula’s core expertise
Regula stands out in the field of document verification with decades of specialized experience. Over this time, we built the most comprehensive database of document templates in the world, with over 14,800 passports, driver’s licenses, national ID cards, and other ID documents from 251 countries and territories. This adds maximum effectiveness and reliability to your document verification processes. Proven by international border controls, it’s also adapted for less critical public applications. Whether for intense security scrutiny or routine checks, Regula’s ID verification software ensures your document readers perform optimally across all scenarios.
For enhanced accuracy, Regula’s software can be optionally integrated with the Regula Information Reference System—an extensive digital collection of detailed images and descriptions of identity and vehicle documents, banknotes, and coins. Covering documents from every country and territory, this reference system includes over 337,000 high-resolution images of documents and their security features, captured under different light sources. This integration provides an additional, highly reliable comparison tool to verify even the rarest and most complex documents with confidence.
The most advanced set of document authenticity checks
Regula’s ID verification software stands out by offering an extensive range of authenticity checks, addressing a common challenge faced by users of third-party readers and software—limited verification options across different document types. Regula’s software automatically reads, analyzes, and cross-checks data from diverse sources, including RFID chips, machine-readable zones (MRZs), barcodes, and visual zones, ensuring the data is consistent and protected against tampering. Additionally, Regula’s software inspects documents in various illumination modes, such as white, ultraviolet (UV), infrared (IR), and coaxial lighting, and performs a range of precise optical checks to confirm the authenticity of a document.
Versatility across industries
Regula’s ID verification software doesn’t lock you into one industry—it’s designed to work wherever accurate and secure ID verification is needed. Successfully deployed in multiple environments, from critical systems like border control and immigration checkpoints to industries like banking, hospitality, retail, and more, Regula’s document authentication software meets unique demands for every sector.
This flexibility means businesses can seamlessly integrate Regula’s robust verification processes into their existing workflows while remaining compliant with industry-specific regulations. For example, in a hotel setting where the primary need is to quickly extract guest information, unnecessary verification checks can be disabled, allowing data extraction in milliseconds. Meanwhile, at border control, where security is paramount, comprehensive document checks can be enabled without compromising speed.
Future-ready
As identity verification standards and document formats evolve, Regula’s ID verification solution is constantly updated to support new identity documents, security features, and verification methods. For example, the latest update enables full support for verifying Digital Travel Credentials (DTCs), the next-generation digital alternative to physical travel documents. With this proactive approach, your passport readers remain fully equipped to handle emerging ID verification requirements.
Cost-effectiveness
With Regula’s deep specialization in document verification, maintaining solutions for document readers is more streamlined and cost-effective compared to other companies, which may need to develop similar solutions from scratch.
This efficiency also allows Regula to offer its document authentication software for readers at an affordable price, making it much more cost-effective to license our technology than to develop and maintain an in-house solution.
Collaborative and knowledge-exchange support
Regula opted for a swarming support model rather than a traditional support setup. This approach means a single specialist with the right expertise manages a client request from start to finish, ensuring an efficient solution tailored to the client’s needs. As a result, deploying Regula’s ID verification software is quick and straightforward for users, allowing them to be up and running with minimal hassle.
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