Transit-focused payment infrastructure provider Littlepay has formed a partnership with MaaS platform provider UrbanThings.
It opens the possibility of multi operator, multimodal payment data to be fed into the UrbanHub platform, giving transit operators richer insights into how passengers are using their network.
The collaboration also facilitates the introduction of cEMV Model 3, which uses the bank Card as an Authority to Travel. Through this system “Buy now, tap later” can be introduced as a transit payment option.
The two important innovations advance the potential for MaaS (mobility-as-a-service) solutions to be more widely used by transport authorities.
Multi-operator, multi-modal interoperability
This exciting move will enable passengers’ multi-operator contactless payments and fare capping activity to be fed by Littlepay into the UrbanThings back office, UrbanHub.
A unique payment token, based on cardholder data received at point of tap, and tokenised to protect cardholder identity, will provide rich insights into passenger travel and payments behaviour across multi-modal transport networks.
This cross-channel view is critical to understanding how transport is used and how services can be optimised to match passenger needs; and is synergistic with the latest governmental initiatives, such as Bus Back Better.
Buy now, tap later
The partnership also allows the UK’s first-ever ‘Buy now, tap later’ transit payment option to be offered to passengers. Using a mobile checkout solution developed by Littlepay, mobile app users will be able to associate their contactless bank card with their MaaS account.
All prepaid journeys, MaaS subscriptions, discounts and even concessionary entitlements can be linked to their payment card, which can be used as their token to travel. This concept is known in the UK as cEMV “Model 3”, or “Card as an Authority to Travel”.
For transport authorities, this consolidates the investment in contactless technology, making it an achievable goal to phase out closed-loop smart cards. In doing so, they can eliminate the cost of issuing thousands of pieces of plastic and maintaining closed loop infrastructure.
For the growing numbers of passengers that regularly use tap-to-pay on transit, it will be a game-changer to be able to access MaaS benefits without changing their payments behaviour. They can use what they already carry in their pocket, their contactless bank card or mobile wallet, for all their ticketing needs.
Additionally, they can monitor and understand their payments and travel history via a mobile app, regardless of whether they use contactless or mobile payments. By enabling push notifications, they can receive real-time updates that keep them in the loop about what they are spending on travel and when they hit a fare cap – after which travel is free.
Carl Partridge, CEO at UrbanThings, said: “We’re very excited about our partnership with Littlepay. We have the same shared goals to create a seamless, user-friendly travel experience. The Littlepay platform is a proven, reliable platform that is complementary to the UrbanThings MaaS platform.”
Sheryll Ricketts, Solutions Consultancy Lead at Littlepay, said: “We are delighted to partner with UrbanThings to unify payments across the MaaS channels supported by their UrbanHub platform. It is exciting when we get to work with like-minded teams, equally committed to advancing innovation in the transport industry.
UrbanThings and Littlepay will jointly explore future solutions that harness the power of a state-of-the-art data platform and robust contactless payments to bring MaaS to life.
About UrbanThings
UrbanThings is a London-based technology company that exists to make travel simple. Since 2011, UrbanThings has been creating software to connect cities and operators to their transport data to help make services efficient, effortless and sustainable for everyone.
UrbanHub is their centralised Mobility-As-A-Service platform that offers App and web-based mobile ticketing, real-time transport information, multi-modal journey planning, automatic fare collection and multi-operator apportionment. The all-in-one solution helps cities to improve their transport and helps to make passenger journeys as seamless as possible.
UrbanThings is also the team behind Bus Checker, the UK’s largest independent bus times app that has provided passengers with live bus times and journey planning for over 10 years. The UK App has recently been upgraded with national mobile ticketing capability. Transport operators in the UK can now sell mobile tickets to customers in the app that they’re already using, with no up-front costs.
UrbanThings’ vision is to create a world in which transport is efficient, effortless and sustainable for everyone, and their tech is the springboard to make this happen.
About Littlepay
Littlepay is a transit-focused PSP, providing payment processing at the heart of an end-to-end contactless EMV ticketing solution.
Its modular, API-based payments platform plugs-and-plays with pre-integrated, ‘Littlepay Ready’ validators, back offices, payment gateways and acquiring banks – giving transit agencies a fast, flexible route to contactless payment acceptance.
Built from the ground up for public transit, Littlepay’s payment infrastructure handles the complexities of micropayments in the transit and mobility space. PCI-Level 1 certified, the system offers robust security and compliance with card schemes’ rules for transit.
Littlepay works with 250+ transit providers of all sizes to deliver contactless ticketing systems – from small, regional operators to multi-modal, city-wide networks and national rollouts. With multiple regional and local acquiring options, Littlepay serves a global market.
