A SOUTHAMPTON nightclub is pioneering new technology that could revolutionise ID scanning.

Oceana Southampton has become one of a selection of late-night bars and clubs to introduce digital identification as a form of ID, meaning revellers will no longer have to take their passport or driving licence on a night out.

The venue, owned by The Deltic Group, has partnered with digital identity app company Yoti, to provide a more efficient way to control underage admittance.

The app is free to download and users simply take a selfie and scan their photo ID.

Yoti then verifies the authenticity of the photo ID and checks it matches the selfie.

The user’s personal data is encrypted throughout, with the private keys being stored on the user’s device.

Yoti can then be used to prove people’s age on nights out by door staff simply scanning a Yoti QR code with their smartphones.

Alongside this, the app can also allow users to confirm the identity details of people they meet online such as on dating and classified websites and prove identities to businesses without showing and photocopying paper documents.

The introduction follows a successful three-month trial of Yoti at Oceana’s sister clubs at Colchester and Eastbourne.

Tim Howard, marketing director at the Deltic Group, owner of Oceana in Southampton said: “ The technology will not only revolutionise our customers’ experience, it will also have an immensely positive impact on our business through reducing queuing times and drastically cutting down on fraudulent activity and attempted underage entry to our clubs.”

“I’d encourage all high street retailers to consider adopting it.”

Robin Tombs, founder and CEO of Yoti, added: “As we increasingly live more of our lives online, the way we prove who we are is outdated. It’s too easy for people to pretend they’re someone else, or gain access to all of our personal details.

“This is shown by the continued rise of identity-related fraud and issues that cost time, money and inconvenience to many people every day.

“Yoti makes it faster, simpler and safer for people and businesses to prove identities and know who they’re dealing with.

“We want to build trust and transparency in the personal information people share – making it safer to get stuff done and do the things we love, via a secure platform.”

The app will be rolled out to all 57 of the group’s sites around the UK during January.