Background
A global consumer electronics company needed to update and standardize its customer identity and access management (CIAM) strategy. Their existing systems were fragmented across regions and products, creating inconsistent customer experiences and increasing security risk. The objective was to implement a unified OpenID Connect solution that would deliver secure, seamless access to digital services worldwide. The scope of the engagement included strategy development, platform configuration, migration of existing users, and deployment at scale.
Analysis
Through onsite workshops and technical assessments, Next Reason identified several challenges:
- Legacy authentication flows were not aligned with modern standards.
- Regional variations in implementation created inconsistent login experiences.
- Migration required minimal disruption to millions of existing customers.
- Internal teams needed alignment across IT, security, and product groups.
These findings highlighted the importance of not just upgrading the technology, but also standardizing processes and governance to support long-term scalability.
Recommendations
Next Reason recommended a phased approach using their existing Akamai Identity Cloud solution:
- Define a global identity strategy centered on OpenID Connect to ensure consistency.
- Establish standardized configuration templates to simplify deployment across multiple business units.
- Plan a customer-friendly migration path to avoid login friction and reduce churn.
- Enable cross-team collaboration by introducing governance practices and knowledge transfer sessions.
Implementation
Over a three-month onsite engagement, Next Reason:
- Developed and refined the identity strategy with stakeholders across IT and product.
- Configured and tested OpenID Connect integrations for multiple applications.
- Migrated millions of users with minimal disruption to customer experience.
- Deployed the standardized solution globally, ensuring a secure and frictionless authentication experience.
- Delivered knowledge transfer sessions to internal teams to ensure sustainability.
The result was a secure, standardized OpenID Connect implementation that improved customer experience, reduced technical complexity, and provided a foundation for future innovation in digital identity.
