An early biometric project supports access to humanitarian assistance

One of AO’s early engagements involved supplying biometric technology for a programme supporting refugees. The intended use was straightforward: people would use their fingerprints to verify their identity when claiming food vouchers.

AO supplied tablets and biometric equipment and coordinated procurement and shipping through Kenya. Delivering the assignment required more than sourcing the right devices. The team had to learn how supply chains, international logistics and import and export requirements fitted together, including VAT, taxes and Incoterms—the terms that define responsibilities between buyers and sellers in international trade.

For a young business, this was a real customer commitment with financial consequences, not a theoretical exercise. Much of the coordination took place through calls and online conversations in the Skype era, with relationships helping the team work through unfamiliar requirements across borders.

The project helped shape an approach that would become part of AO’s foundation: understand the problem, learn what is needed and keep working towards delivery. That meant solving the customer’s requirement while also overcoming the practical challenges AO encountered along the way.

By following through on the assignment, AO built on the trust placed in it. The experience reinforced the importance of dependable relationships, persistence and taking responsibility for getting the work done.