New Zealand’s Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) has begun trialling the NZBN Business Passport, a digital credential named after the New Zealand Business Number that lets businesses verify and share key business information from a wallet on a mobile device. MBIE says it is the first government-issued digital credential and the second accredited under the Digital Identity Services Trust Framework.
The credential can show that a person is able to act on behalf of a business, which MBIE says can reduce paperwork and manual checks when businesses deal with other organizations.
The trial is running with Westpac NZ. Selected Westpac business customers will store an NZBN Business Passport in the Govt.nz app’s digital wallet and connect it to their banking services. Used alongside Westpac’s verified bank account credential, it is intended to give businesses a way to verify both their business identity and bank account details online.
“Businesses are often asked to provide the same information to multiple organisations. The NZBN Business Passport will allow businesses to securely reuse trusted information, reducing paperwork and improving productivity and efficiency,” said Alan Carnaby, MBIE’s acting head of digital business enablement.
Phil Weir, deputy secretary at the Government Digital Delivery Agency, said the Trust Framework Authority had independently assessed the NZBN Business Passport against privacy and security requirements. “Credential holders also control when and where they share their credentials,” he said. “Wider adoption of digital credentials will mean simpler, more efficient services and better protection against fraud.”
Westpac’s credential, announced in September, lets a business prove ownership of its bank account to another organization through a QR code and a text-message confirmation, so it does not need to download a bank statement, redact information by hand or send documents by email.
The Govt.nz app’s wallet, built by MATTR, went live in April. MBIE said it is engaging with other banks and organizations interested in using digital credentials and the NZBN Business Passport, and that feedback from Westpac and participating businesses will inform decisions about wider adoption.
“We are initially trialling the NZBN Business Passport with Westpac NZ,” Carnaby said. “In the future, other organisations will also be able to use information from the credential.”
Sources: MBIE, 1News, B2B News
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By the ID Tech Editorial Team
