Skipping the line: PayIt driver’s license renewal tech iKan puts DMV stigma in reverse

The market is hungry for consumer-grade digital experiences, said John Thomson, founder and CEO at Kansas City tech startup PayIt. Tuesday’s launch of the firm’s iKan driver’s license renewal technology is a step toward satisfying motorists starved for time and frustrated with inconveniences like long lines and packed parking lots at licensing offices.

“Kansas residents previously had to go to the DMV in person to renew their driver’s license,” he said. “For the first time, you can now renew right from your phone or online via the iKan web and/or mobile app. You can also carry the temporary receipt in your mobile wallet (in the app). If you renew your vehicle registration in the same app or online, you can also carry that receipt in your mobile wallet too.”

Click here to check out the iKan platform.

“The app will also alert you the next time you need to renew a vehicle or your driver’s license. So you can just forget it until then, but always have it with you,” Thomson added. “We’re changing the way you interact with government.”

Renewal through iKan is open to Kansans between the ages of 21 and 50; who have had a vision test in the past 12 months in Kansas; are U.S. citizens; do not have a CDL; are not registered as a sex offender; and already have a valid license within one year of expiration.

Motorists seeking Real ID credentials still must apply in person, though PayIt is planning a coming iteration that will simplify the process, Thomson said.

“We’re working on that now and excited to get that really innovative tech into people’s hands,” he said.

(Driver’s and ID holders can use a Real ID checklist at ksrevenue.org/realid to ensure they have the necessary documents to successfully apply for the credentials ahead of the Oct. 1, 2020, federal implementation date.)

Kansas Gov. Jeff Colyer, John Thomson, PayIt CEO, and Donna Shelite, interim Kansas chief technology officer

Though announced earlier this year, iKan’s licensing rollout comes after complaints this summer about long wait times at Kansas Department of Revenue licensing offices across the state, especially in Johnson County. In response, the agency added Monday hours, as well as a implementing KanLicense, a cloud-based software program that aims to reduce customer processing times.

“The combination of these two new platforms [iKan and LanLicense] set the stage for the long-term reinvention of the process of obtaining or renewing a license or ID across Kansas,” said David Harper, director of vehicles.

iKan’s licensing capabilities are the latest deployment of PayIt’s technology in partnership with the State of Kansas. Vehicle registration through PayIt began April 1, followed by vital records June 1, Thomson said.

“We’ve also deployed 311 services in KCK, property taxes in Wyandotte County via MyWyco and more coming there too,” he said. “We’re on an iterative productive development cycle with the state (as we are with all of our clients) to rapidly deploy re-imagined services that streamline government in a personal, secure way. The rollout has been great and usage has been very strong.”

The State of Kansas is a great partner and eager to innovate on behalf of its residents, Thomson said.

“It’s why they selected us over older tech providers in the market,” he said. “Our unique platform in the cloud makes the pace of innovation faster and we deliver compelling results for citizens and government alike.  We will continue to add services into iKan to make government more modern, more convenient, more transparent and more secure. Stay tuned — and download now. We’ll update you as we add services.”

PayIt

PayIt was one of Startland’s Top Kansas City Startups to Watch in 2018, and was announced last week as a Top Ten Government Tech Startup of the Year 2018 by CIO Review.

John Thomson, PayIt

“Our technology helps the government get personal by removing barriers between systems and ensuring that they listen to citizens via a conversational platform,” said Mike Wons, chief client officer at PayIt. “While citizens can access or pay for services in the palm of their hand, our unique application gives the government the ability to deliver services more efficiently, increase adherence to laws and regulations and increase revenue through expedient collection of fees and cross selling of services.”

The business is growing fast, said Thomson, who in July earned a spot for PayIt among the KCRise Fund’s portfolio of companies.

“We’re winning new clients across the country at city, county and state government,” he said. “We’ve emerged as the disruptive, innovative platform in this market full of old tech trying to play catch up. Savvy clients are partnering with us to ‘simplify government’ across a number of agencies.”

The startup also is continuing to build its team. Click here for more information about open positions at PayIt.