Digital ID and reusable compliance are set to redefine 2026, here’s why
2025 has marked a true turning point for the compliance and identity verification (IDV) landscape. Across the property sector, the conversation has shifted from simple digitalisation to something far more powerful — the rise of digital ID and the movement toward reusable compliance.
The term digital ID has become more than just a buzzword; it’s now central to how organisations think about compliance, security, and user experience. With regulators and technology providers pushing for smarter, faster, and safer processes, the industry is finally leaving behind the manual, spreadsheet-driven era.
The Shift: Why is it happening now?
Historically, compliance processes like identity verification, AML, and KYC were manual, time-consuming, and repetitive. Customers buying property, for example, often had to prove their identity multiple times — to estate agents, conveyancers, brokers, and solicitors. This fragmented approach led to frustration, delays, and higher risk exposure.
Today, however, the demand for seamless and secure digital journeys has accelerated the move toward digital identity solutions. People expect instant results, while regulators expect accuracy and accountability. At the same time, fraud is at an all-time high, and younger, tech-savvy consumers are driving the expectation for digital-first services.
Key factors behind this transformation include:
- Regulatory pressure and clarity: Government initiatives are recognising and standardising the use of digital identity in AML and CTF frameworks, promoting secure, digital-first verification methods.
- Updated standards: The latest update to the UK Digital Identity & Attributes Trust Framework (DIATF Gamma 0.4) has reinforced the need for certified Identity Service Providers (IDSPs), ensuring trusted digital verification.
- Operational reality: Manual compliance management — often run through spreadsheets — is no longer viable. It’s slower, riskier, and more costly than digital solutions built for efficiency and scalability.
Looking ahead: 2026 and the era of reusable compliance
As digitalisation grew in momentum in 2025, reusability will come next in 2026. The next evolution in compliance lies in reusable digital ID and shareable compliance credentials that can move with the customer from one transaction to another within the home buying process.
Rather than repeatedly verifying their identity for each new provider, individuals will be able to verify once, reuse everywhere — securely, instantly, and with full consent. This marks a fundamental change in how compliance is managed across sectors.
By adopting reusable compliance solutions from a reputable IDSP such as Credas, organisations in property and legal services can benefit from:
- Verification to the highest DIATF-certified standards using biometric and NFC chip technology
- Real-time AML and KYC checks with automated risk scoring
- Tamper-evident digital audit trails and ongoing monitoring
- A significant reduction in onboarding friction and dropout rates
It’s a future where compliance is not just digital — it’s reusable, portable, and secure by design.
Join the conversation
As the industry embraces digital ID and reusable compliance, Credas is hosting a live webinar on reusable compliance — exploring what it means for regulated sectors, how to prepare, and how businesses can benefit from early adoption. A sneak peek at the brand new Credas Compliance Wallet will also be showcased on the webinar, so you don’t want to miss it.
Stay ahead of the curve and join us as we move beyond the spreadsheet era into a smarter, connected compliance future.
For more information: https://www.kerfuffle.com/suppliers/credas-technologies-ltd
