Biometrics is a technology used to identify individuals on the basis of their physical or behavioral patterns, which can involve anything from fingerprints, facial features, DNA, and iris patterns to keystroke and speech patterns
This information is very difficult to forge, which is why biometrics have seen serious uptake from the security and authentication spheres.
Currently, the Biometrics Market in China is witnessing positive growth with an expected CAGR of 14.8 percent from 2014-2019. One of the main reasons for this positive growth is the high adoption of biometrics solutions in the government and financial sectors, but there’s a whole whack load of other areas that are turning to biometrics.
Banking
Banks are the largest adopters of biometrics solutions in the financial sector, as biometric technology is used to secure a huge number of transactions. Voice biometrics readers are increasingly being adopted for telebanking, and biometrics solutions such as fingerprint recognition and hand geometry are being used in ATMs. Stringent compliance standards and the growing complexity and frequency of data theft are major factors leading to the increased need for biometrics solutions. In China, more than 20 commercial banks, 130 regional commercial banks, and 200-plus foreign banks use biometrics.
Cross-border Travel
With the increased number of terrorist attacks worldwide, airport security has become a priority for the government of China. Biometric fingerprint recognition is one of the best solutions available for authentication of passengers, as it enables airport officials to monitor passengers more effectively and efficiently. In addition, the chances of error are low with the use of biometric solutions, and these solutions provide complete information about passengers entering and exiting airports.
It is estimated that by 2020, approximately 250 airports in China will be issuing e-passports and will have biometrics identification in their security systems. Here, biometrics technology is used for the following:
- Inspection
- Access control to some restricted areas
- Time and attendance of employees
- Watch list for checking on passengers
Coal Mines
Biometrics solutions are being implemented in coal mines in China to help keep track of miners in these volatile environments. It is estimated that more than 11,000 mines will use biometrics technology by 2017 to keep track of time and attendance and also control access to restricted areas in mines.
Gaming Festivals
One major area that has seen penetration of biometrics technology lately are gaming festivals in China. In this instance, biometrics are primarily used for security and identifications at these events.
Government Documentation: Social Benefits, E-passports and National ID Cards
One of the major drivers of the Biometrics Market in China is the increasing demand for e-passports, social security numbers and national ID cards. These devices store biometric information on a smartchip for quick, easy identification. Many government agencies in China have mandated the use of e-passports and national ID cards for airport security and border control, and many social benefit organizations are turning to fingerprint verification when providing social assistance. As the population in the country grows, the number of people travelling abroad is also growing, which has propelled the e-passport and ID card market, and in turn the biometrics market.
Verification of Attendance
It would seem like the days of signing your friends into class may be over—many schools and colleges in China have turned to biometrics as a way to track student attendance. The government has even started to use the technology for driving tests, with a view to managing the traffic situation in the country.
Healthcare
Biometrics in the healthcare sector is mostly being used to improve hospital management in China. In addition, biometric verification is used for patient and staff identification and in fraud detection to improve safety of patients. Hospitals are also exploring a wider range of applications, including fingerprint scanning to identify blood donors, biometrics patient check-in through palm vein scanning, and biometrics USB drives to store patient records. Some healthcare facilities have integrated biometrics into their EHR systems to authenticate clinical and administrative users who need access to patient records.
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