Both are essential, but they don’t always move at the same speed. 

For a long time, verification processes relied heavily on manual review. For businesses, this approach helped meet regulatory obligations, but it also introduced operational challenges like delay in onboarding process and inconsistent review times. 

From a customer’s perspective, this can feel uncertain. Upload a document, wait for approval, maybe provide another one, the process isn’t always predictable. 

And when onboarding is the first interaction someone has with a product, that uncertainty can shape how they experience the entire service. 

The shift towards automated verification

One way fintech companies are addressing this challenge is through automated identity verification. 

At Altery, onboarding includes automated checks supported by partners like Sumsub. These tools help verify identity in a way that’s faster, but still aligned with regulatory expectations. 

In practice, that usually means combining a few key steps: 

• Document verification: Checking government-issued ID (like passports, national ID cards or driving licenсes) to confirm it’s genuine and hasn’t been tampered with. 

• Biometric checks: Matching a selfie (or short video) to the ID document to confirm the person is physically present and the rightful holder. 

• Risk and background screening: Running checks against relevant databases as part of a broader risk-based approach. 

• Proof of address: Verifying where someone lives using supported documents. 

The thing about automation is that it doesn’t eliminate compliance oversight. Instead, it’s able to handle routine verification steps more efficiently for lower risk client types, so compliance teams can focus their attention on complex cases. 

So…is it actually better?

It depends on how it’s implemented. 

Done well, automation can improve both sides: 

• Faster onboarding for customers

• More consistent, scalable processes for compliance teams

• Fewer manual bottlenecks

• Clearer audit trails 

But speed alone doesn’t equal a good experience. 

The balance between transparency and speed

A fast process that’s confusing is still frustrating. 

Clarity is just as important as speed, especially in onboarding, where customers are being asked to share sensitive information. For fintechs like Altery, onboarding isn’t just a compliance step. It’s one of the first interactions customers have with the product. And first impressions matter. 

When verification processes clearly explain what’s needed, and why, customers are more likely to trust the process, even if additional information is required.  

Small improvements in transparency can significantly change how customers experience compliance checks. 

Instead of feeling like a barrier, verification starts to feel like a natural part of joining a secure financial platform. 

So, can you have both? 

The tension between compliance and customer service isn’t going away. But the assumption that one must come at the expense of the other is increasingly being challenged. 

With better verification technology, smarter risk-based processes and better communication with customers, fintech companies are finding ways to make onboarding both secure and straightforward. 

When compliance is designed well, it doesn’t just protect businesses, it helps build the one thing every financial platform ultimately depends on: trust.