What Is Mobility as a Service (MaaS)?
Mobility as a Service (MaaS) is a digital mobility model that combines public transport, first- and last-mile services, ticketing, and payments into one platform, allowing users to plan, book, and pay for end-to-end journeys in a single app. It changes how people move through cities, connecting public transport such as bus, metro, city services like bike or scooters, parking and tolls roads.
Instead of navigating separate systems, MaaS brings these services into a single experience. This integration is made possible through interoperable platforms, where transport operators share data and services through APIs.
The shift reflects changing expectations. According to Visa Urban Mobility Survey, 77% of urban travellers are interested in using a single app for journey planning and payments. At the same time, McKinsey & Company Mobility research estimates that integrated mobility solutions could reduce private car usage by up to 20–30% in cities.
In practice, MaaS platforms bring together journey planning, ticketing apps, and mobility payments into one connected system. The result is a move away from isolated transport modes toward complete, end-to-end journeys. MaaS does not replace public transport. It makes it usable in a digital-first world.
How MaaS Improves Public Transport
User expectations are evolving quickly, and public transport is no exception. Data from Visa survey shows that 73% of users value real-time journey updates, while 68% prioritise convenience over cost. This indicates a clear shift toward experience-driven mobility. At the same time, Mastercard highlights the growing importance of digital payments. Over 60% of commuters expect contactless payments across transport networks, and around two-thirds prefer digital payment methods over cash.
These expectations reflect a broader change in behaviour. Riders want simplicity, speed, and flexibility. They expect one app, minimal friction, and the ability to combine multiple modes of transport in a single journey and MaaS platforms respond directly to these expectations by integrating journey planning, ticketing apps, and mobility payments, making public transport easier to use and more competitive with private cars.
Why One App Matters in MaaS
As mentioned above, one of the most visible part of MaaS is the single app experience. For users, this means no longer navigating multiple systems. Planning a journey, accessing services, and paying for travel all happen in one place.
Many cities still operate fragmented transport and public service systems Visa Urban Mobility Survey reports that 65% of users find dealing with multiple tickets and apps inconvenient. MaaS platforms address this by offering a unified public transportation app that combines real-time journey planning, ticketing, and mobility payments.
O-CITY provides a clear example of how this works in practice. The platform is deployed in more than 120 cities, supporting complex, multi-operator transport environments, including large-scale implementations involving operators such as SAPTCO in Saudi Arabia.
Through its mobile app and platform, O-CITY enables:
• A unified account across multiple transport modes
• Mobile and contactless ticketing
• Real-time journey and transaction visibility
• White-label mobile application for each of 8 connected Saudi Arabia cities public transport operations
A key component is account-based ticketing, where travel rights are managed in the cloud rather than on physical cards. This allows users to move seamlessly across different transport services while enabling operators to introduce flexible fare models and pricing structures.
Examples of MaaS Platforms in Action
Uzbekistan, Tashkent - O-CITY is strong example of MaaS at scale. The platform integrates buses, metro, and other services into a single system and is deployed across 120+ cities. In Tashkent, this enabled a transition to fully cashless public transport supported by mobile ticketing and contactless payments.
The impact is significant. More than 13 cities are connected, integrating over 300 carriers into one ecosystem. The system supports 2,000,000+ daily bus rides and 1,000,000+ metro rides, with digital payments now accounting for 70% of transactions. Adoption has grown rapidly, with bank card usage increasing by 361% and QR payments rising by 188%.
O-CITY platform enabled a fully integrated MaaS ecosystem. Commuters can use a wide range of payment methods, including bank cards, transport cards, QR codes, NFC devices, and even biometric options. The system supports fare segmentation and transfer pricing, allowing flexible tariffs for different passenger groups and seamless transfers across modes. The project delivered benefits for operators and government. By moving away from cash-based systems, transport authorities gained full transparency over transactions and ridership data, improving planning, reducing fraud, and enabling better service optimisation.
Helsinki, Finland - The Whim app, developed by MaaS Global, combines public transport with other mobility services in a subscription model. By bundling services into one offering, it has helped make public transport more accessible and reduce reliance on private cars.
Singapore - The SimplyGo system from Land Transport Authority focuses on contactless access to public transport. Riders can use bank cards and mobile wallets across buses and metro, improving convenience, reducing boarding times, and supporting a seamless travel experience.
Benefits of MaaS for Commuters, Operators, and Cities
Payments are a central enabler of MaaS. According to Mastercard Urban mobility insights, contactless payments can reduce boarding times by up to 30%, improving efficiency across public transport networks. Modern systems rely on account-based ticketing, open-loop payments, and contactless acceptance, allowing users to travel using bank cards, mobile wallets, or QR codes.
For operators, introduction of modern automated fare collection solution reduces the complexity of managing fragmented and cash-based fares, centralising control over fares and wides the acceptance of payment methods familiar to modern commuter.
For commuters its straightforward – single mobile app that brings convenience in commuting and access to services, faster journeys through integrated journey planning, reduced friction with digital ticketing and contactless payments.
While governments and transport authorities benefit from increased public transport usage, reduced congestion and emissions from private cars and improved revenue collection and planning through real-time data. McKinsey & Company Mobility research highlights that integrated mobility systems can significantly improve efficiency, while UITP MaaS resources emphasises their role in making public transport more attractive.
For transport authorities and operators, MaaS is no longer only a vision for future mobility. It is a practical model for improving access, simplifying payments, and creating connected public transport ecosystems. O-CITY helps cities turn that model into an operational reality through account-based ticketing, contactless payments, and integrated mobility platforms.