Biometric identification firm Umanick has opened a new office in Bogota, Colombia's capital, as part of plans to expand in Latin America.The company's strategic growth plan puts the focus on Colombia, Peru and Mexico, markets that show high potential for biometric identification, especially in key sectors for UMANICK such as healthcare, and banking and payment systems.Colombia, whose Information and Communications Technology sector has grown at a constant rate of 14.1% since 2003 according to IDC, has become an ICT services distribution hub for the region, being the eHealth market one of the most dynamic.Furthermore, the country is rapidly adopting the use of new biometric authentication mechanisms in the banking and insurance sectors, where fraud by identity theft is a growing phenomenon.According to industry sources, theft and fraud through different banking services channels totalled 300.000 billion pesos (95 million dollars) in 2015. 70% of these losses come from fraud with credit card payments, both on-site and on-line, and Internet transactions.Emilio Gallego, CEO of UMANICK, explains the reasons that led the company to settle on Colombia as the centre for its activities in the area: “In Latin America there is more fraud by identity theft than in the EU, and therefore there is a greater need for UMANICK's biometric solutions. Colombia is a country with a growing economy and high interest to improve their processes by incorporating new technologies, especially in the field of patient safety”.”I had the opportunity to attend the last International Congress of Hospitals and Clinics, organized by the Colombian Association of Hospitals and Clinics, in June this year, and saw the great importance they attach to improving patient safety. The Association grants the Secure Hospital National Award after intensive work with the candidates. For over an hour they addressed in the plenary hall, in front of about 800 professional from health organizations and the presence of Health Minister of Colombia, the various developments of the leading hospitals in this area” has added Emilio Gallego.
Umanick opens office in Colombia
