MCS Rental Software has integrated identity-verification technology from Sweden’s 365id, allowing rental businesses to digitise checks of passports, ID cards and driving licences and send the captured data straight into MCS systems.
What the integration does
The integration links 365id’s document‑verification capability with MCS’s rental management software so that information obtained during an ID check is transferred automatically into the rental platform. That removes the need for manual re‑entry, which the companies say reduces clerical errors and duplicated effort while speeding up the customer onboarding process.
365id’s system can detect forged documents and is designed to work internationally. The partnership lets rental companies keep the decision‑making power locally while using automated checks to support staff in assessing identity documents.
Claims and rationale from the vendors
Chris Clarke, chief technology officer at MCS Rental Software, framed the move as a response to customer demand for both security and speed. In the announcement he said:
“Our global customers are continually looking for smarter ways to protect their assets while keeping the rental experience fast and professional. The 365id integration gives rental businesses a practical way to strengthen identity verification directly within their MCS system, helping reduce risk without adding unnecessary admin.”
Anders Green, sales and marketing director at 365id, added:
“Identity verification should be a natural part of the rental process. Our partnership with MCS brings our solutions closer to the everyday work of rental teams, helping them make better-informed decisions and spend less time on manual administration. The technology supports the checks, while the rental company remains in control of the decision.”
Why this matters to rental firms and their customers
The rental sector — equipment hire, vehicle hire and similar services — has two recurring tensions: protecting company assets from fraud or misuse, and keeping the customer experience frictionless so bookings are not lost. Integrations such as this attempt to thread that needle by automating the evidence‑gathering step without removing human judgement.
For firms, the practical benefits stated in the release are:
- Faster customer checks — onboarding takes less time when data flows directly into booking systems.
- Lower error rates — automated transfer reduces manual typing mistakes and duplicated data entry.
- Improved fraud detection — document‑forgery detection helps flag suspicious IDs earlier in the transaction.
Practical limits and operational considerations
The announcement makes clear this is an enabling tool rather than a replacement for company policy or human assessment: the rental operator retains control of the final decision. That distinction matters for two reasons.
First, automated checks can reduce some types of fraud but are not invulnerable to sophisticated falsification or identity‑theft techniques. Second, legal and regulatory obligations around identity — from data protection rules to sector‑specific requirements — mean firms must still manage how they capture, store and use personal data.
The release did not provide pricing, rollout timelines or precise technical details of the integration, such as which MCS modules are supported or whether the functionality will be available to all customers as standard. Those are operational questions rental managers will need answered before deploying the feature.
Simple comparison
| Capability | What MCS + 365id offers |
|---|---|
| Documents verified | Passports, ID cards, driving licences |
| Data flow | Direct import into MCS system (reduces manual entry) |
| Decision control | Rental company retains final decision |
The integration is part of a wider trend: vertical software vendors increasingly embed identity and fraud tools to reduce friction and financial loss. For UK rental firms, the attraction is obvious — faster transactions and fewer errors — but successful adoption will depend on clear implementation guidance, data‑handling safeguards and an honest appraisal of what the technology can and cannot do.
