Riyadh-based AI customer experience platform Unifonic has announced a strategic partnership with Ideem to introduce next-generation, passwordless authentication for enterprises across the Gulf. The collaboration aims to create a more secure and frictionless digital ecosystem, moving the region away from the vulnerabilities of traditional passwords and SMS-based one-time passcodes (OTPs).
Quick Facts
- Strategic partnership between Unifonic and Ideem.
- Launching passwordless, Zero-Trust security in the GCC.
- Aims to replace traditional passwords and OTPs.
Tackling The ‘Password Burden’
As GCC organizations accelerate their digital operations, user authentication has become a significant friction point in the customer journey. Unifonic, which enables customer communication for some of the region’s biggest brands, is targeting the “password burden” and the growing frustrations associated with SMS OTPs.
Michael Falorni, Vice President of Growth and Business Development at Unifonic, explained the mission, stating, “At Unifonic, we aim to provide solutions that facilitate seamless connection between businesses and their customers. By collaborating with Ideem, we are advancing this mission. Together we are creating a passwordless ecosystem for our clients that helps reduce friction, increase security, and build more trust with their users.”
A Zero-Trust Approach
The partnership will launch a Zero-Trust security model to combat challenges like phishing, which often targets traditional login methods. Ideem will provide its bank-grade security solutions, originally developed for major financial institutions, through a simple software integration for Unifonic’s clients.
This move is expected to boost client conversion rates by preventing users from abandoning a process due to forgotten passwords or delayed OTPs. The use of cryptographic device binding also makes account takeovers significantly more difficult, reducing fraud.
“Unifonic plays a pivotal role in driving customer engagement across the region,” said Toby Rush, CEO at Ideem. “With broad local market insights and a clear understanding of friction points, the company can support clients by streamlining the customer journey. We are excited to collaborate with Unifonic and support them in strengthening the region’s enterprise landscape with passwordless authentication.”
About Unifonic
Unifonic is a sovereign, AI‑native CX platform for emerging markets. Built on over 25 years of conversational AI R&D and nearly two decades of market experience, Unifonic powers agentic customer experiences across banking and financial services, retail and ecommerce, public sector, digital‑native industries and more—driving billions of interactions each year and touching virtually every consumer across the GCC.
About Ideem
Ideem specializes in next-generation authentication that eliminates the need for passwords. Its Passkeys+ technology offers bank-grade, Zero-Trust security with a focus on user simplicity.
Source: Zawya
