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NEC XON creates KYC solution for mobile networks and financial services


Johannesburg, 07 Oct 2019
Grahame Saunders, business head of Biometrics at NEC XON
Grahame Saunders, business head of Biometrics at NEC XON

NEC XON has created a Know Your Customer (KYC) solution to help mobile network operators and financial services businesses comply with legislation while cutting the costs, time and resources usually associated with issuing SIM and bank cards.

Doing so helps them improve customer service and provide their value-added services on top of the physical product that much quicker.

“The solution can be customised to accommodate relevant legislation and also helps update, maintain and serve the needs of identity systems such as national identification, immigration, social services and others,” says Grahame Saunders, business head of Biometrics at NEC XON. “The physical device that can then be used for SIM and issuing bank cards is a self-service kiosk the size of an ATM and integrates with the business systems these organisations use.”

He says the system quickly moves the customer’s subscribers or clients through the regulated process of collecting their personal details together with their biometrics. The process also creates an updated central repository of subscriber information. Various workflows can then re-use the data as allowable, applicable and commercially viable.

It then issues the SIM or bank card automatically, like a vending machine, and transmits the necessary data to back-end systems to activate the SIM or bank card.

NEC XON’s mobile KYC solution built on Wavetec hardware helps mobile network operators and financial services firms sell value-adding services faster.
NEC XON’s mobile KYC solution built on Wavetec hardware helps mobile network operators and financial services firms sell value-adding services faster.

“The physical device, like those of our customers, becomes a gateway to value-adding services,” says Saunders. “This solution also provides a central data repository to audit active users, the capability to audit for legislation, enables offline registrations, provides a centralised database of blacklisted users and can be used to blacklist devices, users and SIMs. It can be deployed almost anywhere it’s needed for indefinite periods, provides convenient services to travellers to a country where legislation allows and can automatically deactivate SIMs when visitors leave, and can deduplicate data.”

NEC XON partnered with Wavetec for its KYC solution. Wavetec is a multinational IT company that designs and manufactures enterprise queue management, information displays and self-service kiosk solutions for mobile network operators and banks.

Saunders says his engineers developed the integration APIs on standardised SOA technologies to facilitate integration into customer business systems, which future-proofs the solution and supports the customer’s business flexibility.

Out-of-the-box functionality captures fingerprint, iris and facial biometric data using NEC’s global best-in-class software platform. Low-cost smartphone-type technology using Windows and Android technology, rather than bespoke biometric solutions, provides the physical interface and connect via a number of alternatives to back-end systems. 

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NEC XON

NEC XON is the combination of XON, a Systems Integrator providing custom ICT and security services and solutions in Southern Africa since 1996, and NEC Africa, the African business of the global technology giant NEC Corporation. NEC Corporation implemented its first communication solution in Africa in 1963 and established NEC Africa in 2011 to grow its business ICT and public safety.

Kapela Capital (Pty) Ltd, XON’s B-BBEE partner since 2010, continues as NEC XON’s B-BBEE partner in South Africa, with Israel Skosana as chairman of the board of directors of NEC XON.  

NEC generates global revenues in excess of $30 billion by orchestrating a brighter world for public entities, enterprises, telecoms carriers, and providing system platforms for businesses.

The combined NEC Africa and XON (NEC XON) operations seek to more fully explore the opportunities for safe city, energy, cyber security, telecommunication solutions, retail, managed services, cyber defence services and cloud (both public and private), among others in sub-Sahara Africa.

NEC XON maintains its head offices in Gauteng, South Africa with a footprint that covers all nine provinces in South Africa and 16 countries in sub-Sahara Africa.