New Canada Study Finds Smooth Digital Transactions “Essential to Business Survival” During and After Pandemic

A new global and Canada study by the Economist Intelligence Unit and TransUnion (NYSE: TRU) has found the key to whether or not companies go out of business during and after the pandemic hinges on providing consumers friction-right digital transactions. Nearly 79% of Canadian and 85% of global executives surveyed as part of the study said they believe smooth transactions are “essential to business survival” rather than merely a competitive edge.

“COVID-19 has dramatically accelerated digital transformation with 61% of our global survey respondents saying their organization has changed their digital transaction process due to the pandemic,” said Shai Cohen, senior vice president of Global Fraud Solutions at TransUnion. “But all of this digital progress will be wiped out if we can’t remove these barriers to building bilateral digital trust. For instance, two-thirds of global executives in the study, who said their company changed their digital transaction process as a result of the pandemic, experienced glitches."

The report, “New Dimensions of Change: Building Trust in a Digital Consumer Landscape,” included responses from 170 executives from Canada, and 1,440 executives in Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Hong Kong, India, the Philippines, South Africa, the U.K. and the U.S. The research uncovered how technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), national digital IDs^[1] and super-apps^[2] can help overcome hurdles and possibly create new challenges to building digital trust.

Artificial Intelligence (AI), Biometrics and National Digital IDs Will Play an Increasingly Important Role in Fraud Prevention

A large number of respondents answered that: 1) biometrics will be the dominant payment customer authentication method; 2) improved fraud detection and security is the greatest benefit to using AI; and 3) a national digital ID system will help prevent consumer fraud. Approximately 78% of Canadian executives and 85% of global executives say biometrics are likely to be used to authenticate the vast majority of payments in the next 10 years. About 42% of Canada respondents and 43% of global respondents noted that improved fraud detection and security is the greatest benefit to using AI. This was the top selection with smoother customer experience being the second most used answer globally at 29% worldwide and 33% in Canada. Furthermore, the vast majority of executives, 69% in Canada and 79% globally, think national digital IDs will help fraud prevention in consumer transactions.

“Ensuring consumer trust starts with preventing fraud. Our research overwhelmingly showed that biometrics, AI and national digital IDs aren’t just a fad for consumer fraud prevention. They are key for trusted commerce for the foreseeable future,” said Anne-Marie Kelly, VP, Market Development, Identity Management and Fraud Solutions at TransUnion.

National Digital IDs Hold the Key to Economic Inclusion

Seven in 10 executives globally and 61% in Canada believe a national digital ID gives low-income groups access to consumer services they would have previously been excluded from. By industry worldwide, respondents from consumer lending and telecommunications think such IDs give lower-income groups access to services they might otherwise lack. Both industries have led the way over the last decade in reaching the community of financially-underserved customers, manifested in innovations like microfinance and mobile money.

Executives Believe Consumers are Comfortable Sharing Personal Data

About 64% of executives in Canada and 73% of global executives believe consumers are comfortable sharing personal data with private companies. Nearly 71% of worldwide and 72% of Canadian executives believe consumers are comfortable sharing personal data with governments. Brazilian, Chinese and Dominican Republican executives have vastly differing views about whether or not consumers are willing to share data with private companies versus government bodies (more than 10% difference in each country between sharing with governments and companies). Chinese respondents believe consumers are much more comfortable sharing personal data with government bodies than companies. Brazilian and Dominican Republican executives have the opposite belief.  

“Technological innovations like AI, biometrics and national digital IDs paired with fraud prevention methods like device intelligence can provide a more convenient and inclusive way for consumers to transact that still protects security and privacy,” concluded Kelly.

For the survey findings and registration information for a Dec. 3 webinar about the study, go to the Canada report website.

About TransUnion (NYSE: TRU)

TransUnion is a global information and insights company that makes trust possible in the modern economy. We do this by providing a comprehensive picture of each person so they can be reliably and safely represented in the marketplace. As a result, businesses and consumers can transact with confidence and achieve great things. We call this Information for Good.® TransUnion provides solutions that help create economic opportunity, great experiences and personal empowerment for hundreds of millions of people in more than 30 countries. Our customers in Canada comprise some of the nation’s largest banks and card issuers, and TransUnion is a major credit reporting, fraud, and analytics solutions provider across the finance, retail, telecommunications, utilities, government and insurance sectors.

About The Economist Intelligence Unit

The EIU is the thought leadership, research and analysis division of The Economist Group and the world leader in global business intelligence for executives and professionals. We uncover novel and forward-looking perspectives with access to more than 750 analysts, experts and in-country contributors that produce best-in-class intelligence for over 200 countries and regions. More information can be found on www.eiuperspectives.economist.com. Follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.

Media Inquiries

Andrew Goss
TransUnion
Email: Andrew.Goss@transunion.com
Phone: 206.909.9212

[1] National digital ID initiatives are government-administered programs to provide a digital identity to residents, often using biometric data to authenticate identity.

[2] Super-apps are single digital portals, predominantly accessed via smartphones, through which customers access and pay for third-party products and services.