Digital identity adoption: where the UK sees real impact (and what speeds it up)
*Please note that these thought leadership pieces represent the views of the contributing companies and do not necessarily reflect techUK’s own position.
Digital identity is shifting from optional to foundational, reshaping how people prove who they are, how regulated checks (right to work, tenancy, AML, onboarding) happen, and how trust gets built at scale.
At Amiqus, we see first hand how much faster, smoother, and more cost-eff ective identity verification can become, and how many friction points still stand in the way.
For policy makers, innovation leaders, legal firms, and recruitment businesses, the pressing questions now are: where does digital identity deliver the most value, who risks being excluded, and how adoption can scale responsibly and inclusively across the UK.
What we’re seeing in recruitment and legal
In recruitment, many job candidates, contractors, and tenants repeatedly submit the same identity and address documents to diff erent employers, agencies, or landlords. This redundant burden slows processes, creates errors, and wastes time, in workflows that are already emotionally charged and high-stakes.
Clients using verified digital credentials reduce onboarding and verification times by up to 7x compared to traditional manual checks
But speed alone doesn’t win adoption. People need trust in privacy, legality, data clarity, security, and control. Users must feel in charge and confident about how their data is used.
The same pattern plays out in the legal sector. Workflows like conveyancing, AML, and regulated client onboarding are document-heavy, slow, and inconsistent. Digital identity enables remote, high-assurance verification, reduces document back-and-forth, improves auditability, and speeds compliance.
As more firms accept verified credentials, what was once experimental becomes expected practice. Early adopters gain speed and cost advantages; late adopters risk falling behind in user experience and regulatory eff iciency.
What really drives adoption; lessons from our research
Embed it where people already work
Adoption grows when identity verification is built into tools people already use, recruitment software, onboarding systems, tenancy checks, legal case-management workflows. The benefit must be obvious: fewer uploads, fewer repeated steps, clearer timelines, less back-and-forth, faster completion, and stronger fraud protection. Communications should focus on what becomes easier rather than just what is new.
Make the journey simple, clear and predictable
Confusing steps, mismatched devices or documents, unclear instructions, or vague data-use explanations cause users to drop off . Monitoring drop-off , errors, device compatibility and user feedback is essential.
The digital route must feel easier and more trustworthy than before, not just equivalent.
Reuse builds momentum; trust makes it stick
Adoption isn’t a one-off . It’s a process of habit formation. Verified credentials must support multiple checks (employment, tenancy, legal, financial, public services).
Each reuse reinforces confidence for both users and institutions. Governance, audit trails, legal clarity, transparency and data protection are foundations, not optional extras.
Inclusion is the biggest adoption accelerator
Adoption scales fastest when everyone can participate ,not just the digitally confident or those with traditional IDs.
Research shows around 12 % of UK adults are excluded from identity-centric systems because they lack standard identity documents or digital access. Inclusion doesn’t slow adoption; it fuels it. The broader the access, the more sustainable the adoption becomes.
Key takeaways for digital Identity adoption
Begin in high-volume, regulated domains such as recruitment, tenancy, AML, legal onboarding.
Adoption is pulled by clear benefit; speed, clarity, cost-saving, user control, not just by mandate.
Trust matters as much as technology; privacy, legality, clarity and control are essential.
Reusable credentials multiply value, each reuse reduces friction, duplication and cost.
Inclusive design is non-negotiable, accessible routes strengthen adoption, fairness and legitimacy.
Conclusion: Driving adoption together
If your organisation still relies heavily on manual identity/document checks , for onboarding, AML, right-to-work, tenancy, regulated services, now is the moment to rethink.
Ask
Which checks cause delay, cost or user frustration?
Could verified digital credentials cut cost, speed up turnaround, and improve user satisfaction, while remaining secure, auditable and inclusive?
Does your identity service provider off er inclusive, transparent, certified options?
How will you communicate benefits in plain language: “faster, safer, fewer uploads, more control, reuse, inclusion”?
What’s your rollout plan? Start with one use case, monitor progress, refine process, then scale as confidence and reuse grow.
Digital identity is already rolling out in the UK , but only those organisations that put user experience, trust, real value and inclusion first will set the pace. Lead on speed, cost, compliance and fairness and you’ll lead the identity-driven future.
Author
Leila-Clare Kellgren
Senior User Researcher, Amiqus
Digital Identity programme activities
Digital identities will provide a gateway for citizens and SMEs into the digital economy. techUK members demonstrate the benefits of digital identity to emerging markets, raise their profile as thought leaders, influence policy outcomes, and strengthen their relationships with potential clients and decision-makers. Visit the programme page here.
Digital ID campaign week 2025! 🔐
Discover insights from industry leaders exploring the crucial themes shaping digital identity throughout this Campaign Week.
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Sue leads techUK's Technology and Innovation work.
This includes work programmes on cloud, data protection, data analytics, AI, digital ethics, Digital Identity and Internet of Things as well as emerging and transformative technologies and innovation policy.
In 2025, Sue was honoured with an Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to the Technology Industry in the New Year Honours List.
She has been recognised as one of the most influential people in UK tech by Computer Weekly's UKtech50 Longlist and in 2021 was inducted into the Computer Weekly Most Influential Women in UK Tech Hall of Fame.
A key influencer in driving forward the data agenda in the UK, Sue was co-chair of the UK government's National Data Strategy Forum until July 2024. As well as being recognised in the UK's Big Data 100 and the Global Top 100 Data Visionaries for 2020 Sue has also been shortlisted for the Milton Keynes Women Leaders Awards and was a judge for the Loebner Prize in AI. In addition to being a regular industry speaker on issues including AI ethics, data protection and cyber security, Sue was recently a judge for the UK Tech 50 and is a regular judge of the annual UK Cloud Awards.
Prior to joining techUK in January 2015 Sue was responsible for Symantec's Government Relations in the UK and Ireland. She has spoken at events including the UK-China Internet Forum in Beijing, UN IGF and European RSA on issues ranging from data usage and privacy, cloud computing and online child safety. Before joining Symantec, Sue was senior policy advisor at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). Sue has an BA degree on History and American Studies from Leeds University and a Masters Degree on International Relations and Diplomacy from the University of Birmingham. Sue is a keen sportswoman and in 2016 achieved a lifelong ambition to swim the English Channel.
Associate Director - Technology and Innovation, techUK
Laura Foster
Associate Director - Technology and Innovation, techUK
Laura is techUK’s Associate Director for Technology and Innovation.
Laura advocates for better emerging technology policy in the UK, including quantum, future of compute technologies, semiconductors, digital ID and more. Working alongside techUK members and UK Government she champions long-term, cohesive, and sustainable investment that will ensure the UK can commercialise future science and technology research. Laura leads a high-performing team at techUK, as well as publishing several reports on these topics herself, and being a regular speaker at events.
Before joining techUK, Laura worked internationally as a conference researcher and producer exploring adoption of emerging technologies. This included being part of the team at London Tech Week.
Laura has a degree in History (BA Hons) from Durham University and is a Cambridge Policy Fellow. Outside of work she loves reading, writing and supporting rugby team St. Helens, where she is from.
Elis joined techUK in December 2023 as a Programme Manager for Tech and Innovation, focusing on Semiconductors and Digital ID.
He previously worked at an advocacy group for tech startups, with a regional focus on Wales. This involved policy research on innovation, skills and access to finance.
Elis has a Degree in History, and a Masters in Politics and International Relations from the University of Winchester, with a focus on the digitalisation and gamification of armed conflicts.
