Transforming Public Bus Services with Mobile Ticketing Efficiency

In our previous blog, “Five Reasons for Transport Operators to Introduce Mobile Ticketing”, we explored a range of benefits that mobile ticketing offers public transport operators, such as improving operational efficiency and reducing costs, reaching a broader audience, and enhancing the commuter experience. As digital solutions become increasingly necessary to meet the evolving expectations of today’s commuters, mobile ticketing is a key driver for modernizing public transport systems and staying competitive in a rapidly changing market. 

As cities and their populations grow, the demand for quick, accessible, and user-friendly transportation solutions increases. Today, over 4 billion people, more than half of the world’s population, live in urban areas, and this number is predicted to rise significantly by 2050 (Source: World Bank). This rapid growth places pressure on current transit systems to evolve and adapt new technology to meet customer expectations.  

However, despite the urban population growth, many public transport operators have struggled to implement technological advancements, causing transportation infrastructure to often lag behind. Many commuters, especially the unbanked population, still rely on cash transactions, which dominate in a digital-first world. Mobile ticketing offers a cashless, convenient solution that bridges the gap between traditional systems and modern commuter expectations. By adopting digital payment solutions, transport operators can enhance operational efficiency and provide a more accessible for commuters.  

Governments Driving Digitalization:  

Traditional ticketing systems, with long queues and paper-based methods, no longer meet the expectations of today’s commuters, who value speed and convenience. Governments worldwide are implementing initiatives to drive digitalization, promote financial inclusion, and support sustainability as part of modernizing public services and transportation systems. These efforts aim to provide more efficient and accessible services that cater to all segments of the community, including the unbanked.  

Mobile ticketing aligns with these government initiatives by enabling contactless transactions and pushing financial inclusion agenda for unbanked populations. Promotion of cashless, paper-less journeys plays as positive promotion for municipalities, whose goal is making their cites more open and tourist-friendly as well as contributes to:  

• Commuting Efficiency: Streamlines the ticketing process to reduce wait times and improve the overall commuter experience. 

• Payments and Transportation Inclusivity: Provides unbanked individuals access to digital payment methods.  

• City Rating Sustainability: Supports eco-friendly processes by minimizing paper use and facilitating digital transactions. 

Service operators who continue to rely on outdated legacy technologies risk missing out on market share, as consumers increasingly demand contactless, convenient experiences. Digitalization is already underway in all regions, from Europe, with the Netherlands NS public transportation allowing payment via contactless media, to Asia, with Singapore leading in public transport digitalization efforts, to Latin America, and in the Middle East and Africa, with the Ajman Transport Authority implementing modern payment technology on its bus fleet, enhancing smart services within the transportation sector.

Additionally, SAPTCO’s introduction of account-based ticketing (ABT) has allowed the operator to drastically extend payment method acceptance from EMV-based cards to QR-codes and mobile payments. The introduced mobile app provided SAPTCO commuters with an intuitive interface for journey planning, real-time payment tracking, and comfortable route managing. Tailored to SAPTCO’s needs, O-CITY’s platform unified payment methods across SAPTCO’s network, enhancing transparency and accessibility for all commuter segments. 

What is O-CITY Mobile Ticketing? 

The global mobile ticketing market is expected to grow from USD 2,818 million in 2024 to USD 12,125 million in 2034, reflecting a strong demand for digital payment methods in public transportation. Catering for the modern demand, O-CITY has created its own mobile ticketing solution, which was designed to make public transit more accessible, efficient, and environmentally sustainable. Built with an open-loop system, the O-CITY app enables commuters to use a single app on their smartphones for various public services, including transportation, parking, and access to entertainment venues, providing a unified and frictionless experience within smart cities. 

The app supports multiple payment options and provides real-time data to manage payments and link one's card into the app, lowering reliance on cash and enhancing convenience for commuters.  

O-CITY integrates with other applications via its API framework. Service operators can either develop their own application or integrate O-CITY’s technology into existing applications. The mobile ticketing app can be quickly implemented, with an easy enrollment process and intuitive interface that allows employees to start using the platform with minimal training.  

Why Mobile Ticketing Matters  

Mobile ticketing is essential for modernizing public transit, offering a smooth, efficient, and eco-friendly alternative to traditional ticketing systems. By enabling contactless and paperless transactions, it reduces wait times, and improves the overall commuter experience, enhancing service delivery and operational efficiency. Payments with a quick tap or scanning a QR code are faster for commuters than cash payments, streamlining fare collection and reducing operational expenses. Additionally, mobile ticketing allows operators to access valuable data and insights on passenger behavior, enabling informed decision-making. 

It is obvious that mobile ticketing plays an important role promoting financial inclusion and driving digitalization across both urban and rural areas, enabling easy and accessible transit for all. Looking ahead, one might expect that AI will make its way into the public transportation mobile apps, further enhance the commuter experience by offering intelligent route planning and cost-effective travel options. 

Discover how O-CITY is reshaping the next generation of urban transportation. Download the brochure