Deutsche Bahn and Volkswagen Financial Services join identity platform Verimi

• Verimi reaches next milestone: Deutsche Bahn (DB) and Volkswagen Financial Services become new shareholders of the cross-industry identity platform

• With Germany’s largest mobility and logistics provider and the world’s leading automotive financial services provider, the group of shareholders grows to twelve international companies

• Verimi is already live and is expanding its pioneering role: Verimi potentially reaches every German citizen via its shareholder customer base

Berlin, 11.09.2018. The Verimi identity and data platform is taking the next important step: Deutsche Bahn (DB), Germany’s largest provider of mobility and logistics services, and Volkswagen Financial Services, responsible for the financial and mobility services of the world’s leading car manufacturer Volkswagen, are joining the group of shareholders. Verimi is thus gaining new partners that are very well positioned in the mobility and financial services sector.

The two new shareholders expand the group of shareholders to twelve international companies from a wide range of sectors. So far, these include Allianz, Axel Springer, Bundesdruckerei, Core, Daimler, Deutsche Bank and Postbank, Deutsche Telekom, Giesecke+Devrient, Here Technologies and Lufthansa.

Verimi is in use; the service can already be used by Allianz, Deutsche Bank, Bundesdruckerei and Deutsche Telekom as well as other companies from the financial, healthcare and insurance industries.

Deutsche Bahn and Volkswagen Financial Services are strong partners

Stefan Stroh, Chief Digital Officer of Deutsche Bahn AG: “Seven and a half million customers rely on DB trains and buses every day in Germany alone. But they also want to be confident that their data is secure when they book and use our mobility services via digital platforms. We therefore see Verimi not only as a practical, but equally trustworthy everyday helper for all DB customers, which further increases the attractiveness of rail and public transport.”

Deutsche Bahn is currently creating the IT requirements for a standardized login to DB services. Integration is planned for 2019.

Stefan Imme, Chief Digital Officer of Volkswagen Financial Services AG: “Germany has some catching up to do when it comes to digitalization. We consider the Verimi concept in Germany and other EU markets to be overdue and therefore welcome this initiative, especially in light of current data protection discussions. A comprehensive identity platform with a simplified customer login enhances our digital ecosystems in the Volkswagen Group, acts as a door opener for various service offerings and generates real added value at a central interface for our customers – for example in the area of e-government activities and the digital vehicle file. In short: with our investment, we are driving forward the digital identity of customers in the Volkswagen Group.”

Volkswagen Financial Services has already begun integrating Verimi into digital services, such as digital parking or online offers from Volkswagen Bank, with further additional services to follow in 2019. In Germany, Volkswagen Financial Services has a total contract portfolio of almost 6.4 million contracts.

“It is a great success for Verimi to welcome Deutsche Bahn and Volkswagen Financial Services, two further industry leaders in Germany, to the group of shareholders,” says Markus Pertlwieser, Chairman of the Verimi shareholders’ meeting. “Our business model is a real alternative to the large platforms. All the companies involved in Verimi are united by the conviction that customer sovereignty over their data is of the utmost importance for the society and economy of our country and Europe.”

Digital identity is at the heart of digital transformation

Across industries, digital identities are central cornerstones of the digitalization of business processes. Whether for users, companies or public authorities – the importance of verified digital identities is increasing in order to use and offer services online in a self-determined, legally compliant and secure manner. Verimi creates a digital infrastructure standard for this. Verimi is equally relevant for business and administration and gives users back their data sovereignty.