appConfigEntityId

bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

hooksArticlePageAdvertisementConfigArticle

liveArticle

appConfig

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

sponsorType

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

sectionsV2

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

json

SCMP Reporter

Manicon Technology developed its first signature verification system six years ago when demand by commercial banks for the technology was first emerging.

 Manicon's Electronic Signature Verification System (ESVS) helps protect banks from cheque fraud and improves customer services.

 'The system uses digital imaging to make signature verification fast and reliable. With this application, the more you verify, the less you have to administer, and the more banks can save,' said Manicon general manager Eugene Chan.

 The ESVS is designed to provide a complete verification process.

 All signatures or account agreements are converted to electronic images and stored in database to maximise the storage capacity.

 Manicon was established in 1993 by a group of returned Hong Kong emigres, including Mr Chan.

 The Hong Kong market appeared under-served because not only was imported signature verification software expensive, but it lacked technical support as well as Chinese-language interfaces, Mr Chan said.

 He did not target large banks, which generally used total systems integrated into their overall banking software.

 'Our targeted markets are small and medium-sized banks and other financial institutions,' Mr Chan said.

 Manicon focused only on the signature verification aspect of a customer's computer system.

 To clear cheques inwardly, the software's verification routine guarantees correctness of the basic data, including the cheque number, bank code, account number, date and amount.

 The ESVS takes less than one second to verify the signature of a person and provides a better verification than the eye-checking of the past.

 Because of the confidential nature of the signature, the ESVS restricts access to retrieve it.

 The signature verification system could be used by organisations ranging from large retail outlets to back offices to lower potential fraud and improve customer service.

 Manicon's clientele includes First Pacific Bank, Bank of Communications, and Dah Sing Bank.

 In the past it was a very time-consuming to search through cards and verify the customer's signature, said First Pacific vice-president Domon Yu. 'The ESVS could verify a signature in seconds rather than minutes. It helps to reduce costs in identifying fraud in our banks.'  Because of the small size of the banking sector, Manicon plans to customise and sell ESVS systems in other markets.

 Such as the Government's plan to deliver public services for tax payments and licence application and registration through public computer terminals and the Internet, where a signature verification system could play a key role in authenticating users.

 The company plans to apply to the Government's Applied Research Fund in order to improve its products, though Mr Chan expressed uncertainty at how to go about it.

 His main concern is not so much the soundness of Manicon's product, but the company's execution.

 'Given our strong technological experiences in Canada, our major concerns are sales and marketing skills,' Mr Chan said.

 In order to stay ahead of its rivals, Manicon opened a Shenzhen office three years ago which mainly focuses on product development and service support. Mr Chan hopes this will serve as the company's springboard into the mainland, and eventually the whole region.

This article appears courtesy of the Software Industry Information Centre (SIIC) Journal. Contact the SIIC, phone 2788 5693, fax 2788 5878, e-mail: siic@hkpc.org URL: www.it.hkpc.org/siic 



Manicon system fights fraud