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7 Benefits to Transit Operators Upgrading Ticketing Hardware Systems

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.

Driven by Passenger Demand

Transit ridership and the demand for smart ticketing are expected to grow rapidly in the next five years:

  • According to Statista, the number of global public transportation users is forecast to grow to nearly 4.5 billion by 2027, with much of that growth occurring in North America
  • According to Fortune Business Insights, the global smart ticketing market for public transit is projected to rise to 21.33 billion USD by 2028 at an average annual growth rate of 14.5%

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:

  • Increasing ridership to maximize revenue
  • Meeting passenger expectations for convenience
  • Improving operational efficiency
  • Reducing fraud
  • Learning more about passengers’ travel preferences
  • Eliminating personal contact to improve passenger and driver health and safety
  • Maintaining compatibility with the latest secure ticketing standards

Ticketing Hardware Solutions Are Readily Available

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.

Take the Next Ticketing Step

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.

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