The recent rape case of an employee in Pune of a well-known IT giant sent shock waves across the industry with many questioning whether security employees hired for software parks are vetted before appointment.Similarly, the taxi driver hailed using an app; the handyman that was called to fix the sink, the pizza delivery boy, each one represents a possible ‘high-risk’ interaction.Unfortunately, thorough background checks are only a knee jerk reaction to such incidents. We live in a time where background verification cannot just be considered another tick in the box for the HR department but needs to be looked at as a serious compliance and security issue.

For a large percentage of companies, the lack of checks is attributed to the fact that in India, running a check is a long cumbersome process. However, the ever-rising crime rate coupled with fraud in the recruitment process is slowly changing the perspective of many organizations across sectors. Moreover, with the advent of intelligent screening solutions, background verification is fast becoming a norm across industries.

Continuous innovation and laser-focused customer attention are core values at InstaVeritas. We have leveraged technology to redefine the manner in which background verification was conducted to ensure the process is fast and easy but at the same time more comprehensive than traditional industry standards. The first step is to understand each client’s specific risks and pain-points and developed a tailored solution that mitigates the identified risks. The screening needs of an IT giant are vastly different from that of a taxi aggregator or a hospital.The costs of a bad hire too are fast becoming apparent. The process of on boarding a new candidate includes recruitment costs, time invested by HR teams, training and induction to the company.

A new recruit who has falsified information with regard to his or her qualification or academic record will grossly under-perform and will result in him being laid off eventually, resulting in the cycle having to be repeated for the same position.

With the advent of intelligent screening solutions, background verification is fast becoming a norm across industries

Background Verification entity’s systems are integrated with that of the clients to ensure that candidate data flows seamlessly. Once the data is received the data, such as ID proofs, educational certificate and employment records,the work begins. They are organized as specialized teams for each verification vertical, such as identity, address, criminal records, education and employment. Depending on the level of the check, the candidate details flows in a conveyor belt fashion across the various teams. For field verifications, they have verifications agents that cover every district of the country. In addition to validating an address, they collect photographs, neighbour references and GPS co-ordinates. This check is critical to ensure traceability of the candidate in question.In order to conduct criminal records check these entities use machine learning and intelligent search algorithms to deliver a more comprehensive and faster check than traditional industry standards.

Discrepancies vary from sector to sector. Background Screening companies have found that over 15percent of employees in BPOs and call centres commit fraud in terms of salary and forgery. There are also several instances of former employees absconding without completing their exit formalities and clearing pending advances. The logistics and transport sector has recorded hit rates of over 10percent in our criminal court record searches and cases identified include murder, rape, POSCO (prevention of children from sexual offenses), kidnapping, narcotics, theft and assault to name a few.Fraud in terms of wrong identity, criminal records, fake licenses, invalid degrees and salary/income forgery have gone up exponentially across various sectors with BPOs and call centres topping the list. We found that over 12percent of employees in BPOs and call centrescommit fraud in terms of salary and forgery. There are also several instances of former employees absconding without completing their exit formalities and clearing pending advances. Substance abuse is another aspect that is frequently overlooked by prospective employees.

With technology at the pinnacle of its evolution, companies across the spectrum must embrace background verification to reduce both internal as well as external risks. Companies must go the extra mile to hire a trustworthy background verification company to ensure thorough checks on their employees. It should no longer be looked at as an obligation, but as an important investment that protects the assets of an organization, ensures the safety of employees, protects the reputation of an establishment but most importantly, serves as a beacon of trust for loyal consumers.