While health passes and digital certificates are being released in response to the demands of the pandemic, some countries are planning to go further in digitising identity documents. This is particularly the case in Germany, which launched its Digital identities" projectThe initiative was launched by six federal authorities, including the Chancellery and the Ministries of the Interior and Finance. " As digital transformation progresses, secure online electronic identification is becoming increasingly important. This is especially true now that the Covid-19 pandemic has meant that more administrative formalities and private matters are being carried out online." notes the German government.
From then on, its aim was to create a digital ecosystem bringing together all identity documents These include identity cards and driving licences, as well as professional, student and health cards. This will be achieved by developing a national electronic identity, an "eID", and a dedicated application, the AusweisApp, where these documents can be integrated. By autumn 2021, German citizens will be able to save the electronic proof of identity on their ID card directly on their smartphone, in encrypted form. Germany assures that its identification tool has the "highest level of assurance". as high as possible, in accordance with the eIDAS regulation" .
While electronic identification by smartphone cannot be used as an official travel document for crossing borders, it is useful for domestic business travel. The pilot of this "digital identities" project is primarily aimed at business travellers in Germany. In fact, three German hotel groups - Deutsche Hospitality, Motel One and Lindner Hotels - and 18 companies have joined forces with the German government to test an "ID Wallet" specially developed for employees of participating companies. These include Lufthansa, Deutsche Bahn, Bosch and BWI, all customers of Steigenberger hotels, Deutsche Hospitality's flagship brand, as well as Denkwerk, Gubse, Cancom and IBM, regulars at Motel One. At the same time, 120 hotels should be connected to the system by summer 2021, including more than 40 Steigenberger hotels and around 30 Motel One hotels.
" This pilot project will enable employees of our customers and partners to use a digital identity to check in at our hotels." said Marcus Bernhardt, CEO of Deutsche Hospitality. Travellers will no longer have to fill in a paper form at check-in.. This not only saves time, but also reduces the amount of paper wasted and ensures that all the information is communicated correctly, including the correct company address for the invoice.
Of course, as long as the pandemic is still raging, this digital solution is also part of the accelerated deployment of contactless technologies. "The solution we have developed makes an important contribution to our hygiene concept".says Daniel Müller, co-CEO of Motel One. No doubt that's why the head of the business chain, with its alluring design, intends to use this digital recording option for more than just German purposes. " In the future, we hope to successfully implement this process at all Motel One European locations, for both business and leisure travellers." concludes Daniel Müller.
The German example could give ideas to other EU Member States. In fact, this is an established aspect of the project, with Germany intending to act as a kind of pilot fish for a digital identification system common to all EU countries. All to prevent others from doing it for them...". Our aim is to use interoperable identification solutions to establish a European alternative to non-European private services." says the German government in its communication on the project. Will the famous "your papers, please" policy soon be a thing of the past?
