The International Association for Identification’s (IAI) Annual Educational Conference is always a valuable opportunity to hear directly from forensic agencies on the front lines. At the 2025 event, one message rang loud and clear: while the science of biometrics continues to advance, the legacy systems that support it are overdue for modernization.

As someone who has spent years working alongside agencies and technology leaders, I left the conference with a renewed conviction that the biometric identification ecosystem must evolve faster to meet the needs of those who rely on it every day.

Modernization and Cloud: More Than a Buzzword

Agencies are ready to modernize, and they see cloud infrastructure as the path forward. Moving AFIS/ABIS systems into municipal technology organizations and the cloud not only streamlines deployment and upgrades but also future-proofs investments.

At Aware, we’ve long believed that biometric systems should be as agile as the investigators who depend on them. Cloud-native solutions aren’t just about efficiency; they’re about resilience, scalability, and ensuring critical tools never lag behind the mission.

Funding: Why the Disconnect?

One of the most puzzling themes from IAI was funding. Despite the undeniable impact of biometric analysis in solving crimes and removing dangerous individuals from our communities, budgets remain a barrier.

This disconnect signals a broader issue: when the proven value of technology doesn’t align with funding priorities, communities lose. We must do better at articulating the return on investment, not just in dollars saved, but in lives protected.

Support Matters More Than Ever

Perhaps the strongest frustration voiced by agencies was around support, or the lack of it. Too many providers are leaving customers behind, with agencies citing poor responsiveness, little proactive care, and a sense that their needs are secondary.

This is unacceptable. Technology is only part of the equation; partnership is the other. Customer support is not a service line but a responsibility. Agencies deserve a provider that stands shoulder-to-shoulder with them, not one that disappears after deployment.

State Systems: Scalable, but Limited

Many agencies are leaning on state-run AFIS/ABIS systems as a cost-effective solution. While this makes sense at a scale level, it’s not always enough. Crime is local, and agencies consistently reported frustration with search times, data limitations, and access gaps.

The future lies in hybrid approaches—leveraging the scale of state systems while enabling local agencies to maintain the speed and specificity they need to act decisively.

Interoperability: The Next Great Opportunity

The “wish list” item we heard most often? Interoperability. Agencies want to be able to query local databases before escalating to state-level searches. This desire isn’t just about convenience, it’s about efficiency and accuracy in investigations.

The AFIX/ABIS market needs to respond by creating solutions that break down silos while protecting data integrity and security. Interoperability is not as a nice-to-have, but as a must-have for the next generation of public safety technology.

The Path from Frustration to Forward Looking Innovation

The 2025 IAI conference underscored what many of us already know: modernization is no longer optional. Agencies are ready for cloud-based, interoperable systems supported by providers who treat them as true partners. The challenge—and the opportunity—for all of us in this space is to deliver. Vendors need to be committed to leading that charge, helping agencies modernize with confidence, invest wisely, and receive the care and partnership they deserve. Because at the end of the day, this isn’t just about technology. It’s about empowering those who keep our communities safe.