03/17/2023 | News release | Archived content
A significant reason for the industry's post-pandemic ridership rebound is the upgrading of the ticket reading hardware and infrastructure - systems that had aged significantly, even before the pandemic.
Public transit operators and authorities need to move toward a more digital or mobile paradigm to meet customer expectations and enhance the passenger experience. Transportation authorities who do not replace their aging ticketing infrastructure nor offer contactless payments will increasingly feel pressure from their passengers and stakeholders to upgrade their systems or risk losing them permanently.
Transit ridership and the demand for smart ticketing are expected to grow rapidly in the next five years:
This growth in demand will require transit operators to upgrade their smart ticketing systems. In addition to the demand for smart ticketing, there are multiple benefits to transit operators upgrading ticketing hardware systems, including:
One of the most efficient ways to upgrade is to take advantage of innovative hardware that results in a single point of ticket presentation. This enables transit operators to deploy hardware that can read tickets rapidly when presented from any orientation and can accept contactless payments - all via a single interface.
As an example, read how we helped Jacksonville Transportation Authority achieve a 5.5-fold increase in mobile ticket purchases by its customers.
Upgrading ticketing hardware is essential for mass transit agencies wanting to increase fare revenues and deliver improved services. Embracing the positive aspects of change requires ticketing hardware that meets today's requirements while remaining flexible enough to respond to future needs as well as meeting the highest levels of passenger convenience.
Learn more about the essential reasons for upgrading mass transit ticketing hardware in our eBook.
Following 12 years working in senior sales roles within global transportation companies, Darren now leads business development and strategy for the Access-IS Business Unit's Mass Transit sector at HID.