# Why we built Konnect ID, a KYC platform for Africa | Konnect ID

> Konnect ID started as the verification layer of our own payment gateway and of a mobile money wallet. Why we built it, and what we learned on the way.

Source: https://id.konnect.network/blog/why-we-built-konnect-id · Language: en · Also in fr: https://id.konnect.network/fr/blog/why-we-built-konnect-id · ar: https://id.konnect.network/ar/blog/why-we-built-konnect-id

## Why we built Konnect ID.

Konnect ID did not start as a product. It started as a problem we had ourselves: verifying merchants for our payment gateway and customers for a mobile money wallet, with documents and rules that global tools did not handle well.

## Key takeaways

- Konnect ID started as the verification layer of our own payment gateway and of a mobile money wallet.
- Global tools were weaker on the Tunisian ID card, on Arabic and on keeping data in the country.
- It is built around regional documents, explained decisions, self-hosting and three languages.

## The problem we had

Konnect Networks runs a payment gateway for merchants and builds the technology behind Kashy, the mobile money wallet run with ViaMobile, part of the Tunisie Telecom group. Both need to verify people and companies every day. The tools we tried were strong on passports and European cards, but weaker on the Tunisian ID card, on Arabic, and on keeping data in the country.

## What we decided to build

- Document reading that works on the cards our customers actually hold, starting with the Tunisian CIN, front and back, in Arabic.
- Decisions a compliance officer can explain: every check says what it found, every automatic decision records its rule.
- A self-hosted edition, so data can stay on infrastructure the regulated company controls.
- Screens in Arabic, French and English, and support in the same time zone.

## What comes next

Konnect ID now serves other regulated companies across Africa and the Middle East. On this blog we will share practical guides, regulatory updates and product news. The reference pages on countries and compliance stay up to date in the meantime.

## FAQ

### Is Konnect ID only for Tunisia?

No. It started there, but it is built for regulated companies across Africa and the Middle East, with national ID cards added per deployment.

### Who uses Konnect ID in production?

Kashy, the mobile money wallet run with ViaMobile, and Konnect's own payment gateway for merchant KYB. Their stories are on our customers page.

_Published on 2026-10-27 by The Konnect ID team._

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