Leading Edge Technology Solutions Inc. the company behind TransPay Barbados, working with the Barbados Transport Board, has partnered with O-CITY, a next-generation automated fare collection platform developed by BPC, to modernise payments across the island’s public transport network. The programme supports the Transport Board’s goal to make bus travel more accessible and convenient for both residents and visitors by introducing account-based ticketing, digital top-ups and dynamic QR payments.
Bridgetown public transport has long operated on a fixed-fare model with different government operated buses and privately operated buses “B’s” and route taxis “ZRs”, which created friction for commuters and tourists particularly where different fare rules from cash handling and exact-fare constraints slow boarding and limit convenience in transit.
The city has taken a major step toward a more accessible transport experience following the City of Bridgetown transport modernisation agenda. With new fare collection technology in place with TransPay, deployed in record 5 months - commuters of any segment from adults, students, children to social groups and tourists will have the option going forward to pay with modern options including QR codes, transport cards and mobile-app, reducing reliance on cash and reducing board time. The app is designed for simple enrolment and everyday use, giving commuters a single place to register, manage payment credentials and travel with confidence across the island. For the Barbados Transport Board the shift supports a broader financial inclusion and cashless agenda by bringing dispersed transport services into one interoperable platform improving convenience for the public while strengthening fare transparency and management, adds smart segmentation for tickets and the ability to scale the ecosystem over time.
Terry Jones, Managing Director of Leading Edge Technology Solutions Inc., the company responsible for Transpay, said: “Digitalising our public transport is a huge milestone. It will make public transport easier to use for residents and far more accessible for visitors. Thanks to O-CITY, we can now offer cashless payment options, faster boarding, and utilise a single cloud-native platform that helps us unify services across the network. This is an important step in our wider agenda to expand financial inclusion and deliver more convenient, reliable mobility for everyone on the island.”
Javier Rios, Client Director, AFC, O-CITY by BPC, said: “O-CITY was built to make everyday mobility simple - one account, multiple ways to pay, and a mobile-first experience that any transport operator can adopt quickly. By bringing account-based ticketing, QR payments, and a white-labelled app into one interoperable platform, we’re helping Barbados move toward a more connected, cashless transport ecosystem that works for commuters, operators, and tourists alike.”
The rollout is designed to scale. The programme modernises fare collection without disrupting existing cash-based operations, while setting the foundation for EMV-compliant open-loop ticketing in the next phase so commuters and tourists can pay using internationally branded bank cards, contactless devices and other payment methods.