A design sprint to explore the possibilities of blockchain based certificate of conduct

Digitising the paper VOG

Many companies and government agencies require a “Verklaring Omtrent het Gedrag” (VOG - Certificate of Conduct) before hiring someone. The Dutch government defines the VOG as a document by which the Dutch State declares that the applicant did not commit any criminal offences that are relevant to the performance of his or her duties. The Dutch the Ministry for Justice and Security, Justis, is responsible for the background research and issuance of a VOG. Approximately one million paper VOGs are provided each year in a complex and time-consuming process.

The technical and innovation center of the "Dienst Justitiële Inrichtingen" (DJI – Custodian Institutions Agency) wanted to experiment with blockchain technology. Together with Kryha, TES created an education program for DJI and Justis in which the VOG issuance process was redesigned, eventually digitising it using blockchain technology.

A design sprint to rethink the VOG

The first element of the education program was a design sprint. A design sprint is a very powerful method in which a short design and prototyping iteration facilitates the creation of innovative solutions in just a week. Together with stakeholders from DJI, Justis and Justid (the justice information service), we mapped the current VOG issuance process and designed a digital version of that service, in which we gave blockchain a central role.

Ultimately, we created a user-centred prototype of the new service of applying and issuing a digital VOG. The design sprint concluded with a validation of the prototype by internal stakeholders of Justis.

The VOG on blockchain

Interestingly, DJI, Justis and Justid being in the same room and working on a joint solution had never happened before. It turned out to be a big gain, without having even begun.

Storing the VOG in the blockchain rather than publishing it on paper enables applicants to give multiple companies access to their VO, solving a frequent problem for groups such as freelancers. Yet the biggest advantage of a digital VOG is a dramatic reduction of the application time from a few days to just a few seconds.

A screenshot of the prototype we created during the sprint

Next, building a proof of concept

The design sprint kickstarted the blockchain education program. Next steps will involve the development of a technical proof of concept, in which both developers of DJI and Kryha will work together. The proof of concept will be validated comprehensively by multiple parties, including the Dutch government), before moving towards the final product phase.

TES will be involved as an external advisor during the development of the technical proof of concept.