Mobile driver’s licenses (mDLs) can identify customers quickly in retail. It’s useful in more scenarios than when a customer is purchasing age-restricted items.
Reducing Synthetic ID. Because an mDL is cryptographically signed by the State Issuing Authorities that we already trust, mDL is not subject to the same injection-attacks where synthetic identity information is fed into text entry systems or even used to create fake ID documents for point of sale.
Speeding Transaction Time across Channels. A customer that uses mDL to identity themself online can be proven to be the same customer as in-person without the need for full identity data or sophisticated fuzzy matching schemes. Buy online and pickup in store (BOPIS) becomes achievable for products that require age or ID.
Improving Privacy and Lowering the Cost of Security. Because the mDL Holder has fine-grained consent before sharing data, and the retailer can ask for precisely the identity data required to complete a transaction, privacy and security are enhanced. The mDL Holder has control. The data is easy to obtain. The Retailer does not have the expense of storing and securing identity information.
ID and Step-up Authentication. Mobile Driver’s Licenses linked with online digital identities can provide transaction-time purchase confirmation or higher assurance “step up” identity verification.
Single Tap to Pay and ID. For customers who choose to make a payment using their phone, the entire checkout experience could be completed without the need to pull out a wallet. With electronic, verifiable identity credentials, the possibility of single tap to pay and verify age or ID can become achievable.
Some mDL Use Cases in Retail
- Buy Online Pickup In Store (BOPIS)
- Unreceipted Returns
- Step-up Identity Verification
- Money Services
- Check Cashing Verification
- Account Enrollment
- Kiosk Services
Downloadable Documents
Some publications from our Age Verification Use Case Working Group:
