ConnectID, the digital identity solution developed by Australian Payments Plus (AP+), has been integrated into the One Click Group platform to provide a streamlined process for verifying identity during tax season and beyond.
The rollout comes as many workers and organisations across Australia prepare to lodge their tax returns, with One Click Group aiming to simplify documentation and improve the experience for clients managing not only tax returns but also services such as wills, insurance, mortgages, and investments. With demand for self-managed financial tools continuing to rise, the platform sought an alternative to traditional identity verification procedures.
Digital onboarding
The implementation sees ConnectID used at the onboarding stage for One Click customers, allowing them to verify their identity without uploading documents like passports, driver's licences or utility bills. The approach leverages reliable data sources, including the customer's own bank, to confirm details in real time.
Nathan Kerr, Chief Technology Officer of One Click Group, explained how the technology aligns with customer needs, saying, "It helps us approve legitimate users faster, spot risks earlier, and remove bottlenecks for both sides. It's a modern solution for a modern problem, built around how people actually live, not how systems expect them to."
The process is designed to be secure and efficient. Through ConnectID, users select a preferred organisation for verification and consent to share only the information required. This reduces the reliance on potentially error-prone manual input and minimises the risks of mismatches between client details and government records, which have often necessitated time-consuming manual intervention in the past.
Supporting inclusion and privacy
One Click Group identified secure real-time data validation and privacy as key factors in adopting ConnectID. Kerr said, "ConnectID was both the smart and the right move for us. We were looking for a secure way to verify a client's details as a final safeguard against fraud and ConnectID stood out immediately. It's backed by Australian Payments Plus, so it comes with serious credibility in payments infrastructure. But better than that, it solved two problems at once: reducing fraud and supporting people who don't have access to traditional forms of ID."
He added, "With so many high-profile data breaches in recent years, ConnectID's approach, where excessive identity data doesn't need to be stored or passed between parties, fits perfectly with our values of not collecting or storing identity data unless we have to. That's a big win for privacy."
By validating name, address and contact details with current bank information, the solution provides access for users who may not have a passport or driver's licence. Kerr noted, "With ConnectID, we tap into the most current source of truth: the user's bank. That means we can validate details like name, address, and phone number in real time; data that's regularly updated and already vetted under strict banking regulations."
Industry perspectives
Andrew Black, Managing Director of ConnectID, said: "By working with One Click Group, we're ensuring Australians can manage their financial services confidently, with more control over their data. This integration is another step towards creating a future where identity verification is simple, secure, and respectful of privacy."
Looking ahead
In the coming months, One Click Group intends to expand the scope of ConnectID to cover verified bank account information, including BSB and account numbers, for processes such as issuing refunds. This is designed to help prevent misdirected funds and add an extra layer of fraud prevention. The capability is expected to reduce costs associated with tracking incorrect payments and to address customer dissatisfaction stemming from delays or administrative errors.
By embedding secure, real-time verification into key stages of customer engagement, One Click Group and ConnectID aim to deliver financial services that are more accessible, responsive, and secure. The integration strengthens measures against both identity fraud and privacy risks, supporting organisations in navigating periods of increased activity such as tax time while protecting users' data and reducing administrative burdens.
