KYC Provider Integration Guide

The KYC vendor landscape includes dozens of providers with different specializations.

Full-stack verification providers: - Onfido: Strong document + biometric, good developer experience - Jumio: Enterprise-focused, comprehensive coverage - Veriff: Video-based verification, strong accuracy - Sumsub: Good value, strong in crypto/gaming - IDnow: Strong in European markets

Specialized providers: - Plaid: Bank account verification, income verification - Socure: Identity graphing, predictive analytics - Sardine: Device intelligence, behavioral biometrics - Persona: Workflow builder, good UX

Data providers: - LexisNexis: Identity data, fraud databases - Experian/Equifax: Credit bureau data, identity verification - World-Check (Refinitiv): Sanctions and watchlist screening

Choose providers based on your specific needs: geography coverage, document types, volume pricing, accuracy requirements.

Selecting the right KYC provider requires evaluating multiple dimensions.

Accuracy: - Document verification accuracy by type - Biometric matching accuracy - Liveness detection effectiveness - Fraud detection rates

Coverage: - Countries and document types supported - Language support - Regulatory certifications (SOC 2, ISO 27001)

Integration: - API design and documentation - SDK quality (mobile, web) - Webhook reliability - Sandbox environment quality

Operational: - Processing speed (real-time vs batch) - Uptime and reliability - Support quality and responsiveness - Compliance and audit support

Commercial: - Pricing model (per verification, tiered) - Minimum commitments - Contract flexibility - Total cost at your expected volume

Run pilots with multiple providers using your actual user base. Published accuracy numbers often don't reflect real-world performance on your specific document types and user demographics.

Design your integration architecture for flexibility and resilience.

Direct integration (single provider): - Simplest implementation - Vendor lock-in risk - Limited fallback options

Orchestration layer (recommended): - Abstract provider behind your own API - Easy to switch or add providers - Custom logic for routing and fallback - Unified data model

Multi-provider strategies: - Primary + fallback: Use secondary provider when primary fails - Best-of-breed: Different providers for different capabilities - Geographic routing: Different providers for different regions - A/B testing: Compare provider performance

Orchestration layer components: - Request routing logic - Response normalization - Error handling and retry - Fallback provider selection - Result caching (where appropriate) - Audit logging

Building an orchestration layer is more work upfront but provides significant flexibility as your needs evolve.

Not every KYC component should be built or bought. Use this framework.

Typically buy (integrate providers): - Document OCR and authenticity detection - Facial recognition algorithms - Liveness detection models - Sanctions/watchlist screening - Global document coverage

Typically build (custom): - User experience and verification flows - Risk scoring and decision engine - Provider orchestration - Case management and manual review - Analytics and compliance reporting

Decision factors: - Volume: High volume justifies custom investment - Differentiation: Build where you compete, buy commodities - Expertise: Do you have ML/CV talent to build and maintain? - Speed: Buying is faster to market - Control: Building gives more flexibility

Hybrid approach (most common): Integrate providers for core verification capabilities. Build custom orchestration, UX, and decision logic. This balances speed-to-market with long-term flexibility.

Managing KYC vendor relationships requires ongoing attention.

Contract considerations: - Volume commitments vs flexibility - Price escalation clauses - Data ownership and retention - Exit provisions and data portability - SLA definitions and penalties

Operational management: - Monitor accuracy and performance continuously - Track costs against budget - Regular business reviews - Stay informed of product updates - Benchmark against alternatives periodically

Risk mitigation: - Avoid single points of failure - Maintain ability to switch providers - Keep integration abstracted - Document data flows for compliance - Regular security assessments

Relationship development: - Engage with customer success - Participate in beta programs - Provide feedback on product direction - Negotiate based on partnership value

The KYC market is competitive. Use that to your advantage in negotiations while building genuine partnerships with providers who understand your needs.