Bus
Automated Fare Collection
Gone are the days when public transit riders could only pay with cash, which had to be collected, deposited into garage vaults, counted and subsequently deposited into an agency’s bank account. Today, utilizing automated fare collection (AFC) technology to not only collect payments electronically, but also integrate with comprehensive data collection and detailed analytics, are essential for the continued operation and profitability of any public transit agency.
However, an investment in AFC will be a major decision for any agency and to make the most of it, there are certain features you should look for when choosing your AFC provider.
Configurability of the Hardware
The first question a public transit agency must ask is how difficult will it be to integrate a new AFC system within the organization? Agencies must consider:
- The cost of integrating the AFC system to existing legacy systems
- Maintenance costs (cost of new components and/or system)
- Support for future customization and configurations to the system
The answer often depends on the modularity of a system and thought given to the design of the various components or sub-systems. A well designed system will allow components to be readily replaced when better technology becomes available or when end-of-life issues arise. This approach will allow for savings across the agency from inventory management, reduced maintenance and less training required for the users of the system. Furthermore, a modular design is easier (and cheaper) to configure to complement existing assets.
Flexibility with Payment Methods
We have come a long way from cash-only payment systems. Riders have come to expect to be able to make any financial transaction through credit cards, smart cards, mobile ticketing, QR codes, barcodes etc., and your AFC provider should be able to accommodate a wide variety of payment methods.
According to the Smart Card Alliance, a non-profit association dealing with smart card technology, the benefits of offering different payment methods, include:
- Lower fare media issuance costs: Agencies don’t have to issue as many tickets or tokens to their riders (since some transactions occur in the back-office, such as the purchase of monthly passes), which reduces the cost
- Well-defined security standards: Any credit and debit cards, and most transaction organizations, will comply with the Payment Card Industry (PCI) data Security Standards (DSS). With compliance to these high security standards, customers can be assured that their personal information and the value in their account will not be compromised
- Better customer experience: If riders don’t have to always stop to buy a transit-specific pass or token, but can easily pay with a single card, walking through a turnstile or stepping on a bus, this leads to a better ridership experience
Business Intelligence Reporting
To maximize operations, you need to know where your riders travel and when. A good AFC system needs to have a reporting module that offers detailed and well-organized financial and ridership data, e.g. how many people use a certain stop at a particular time, for better scheduling to maximize revenue. A reporting tool should include:
- Detailed transaction records e.g. based on location
- Integration of disparate databases within the organization
- Business intelligence integration to make better schedules and anticipate problems
- Accurate and detailed data necessary to make informed decisions
Integration with Other Departmental Systems
Integrating an AFC system with other departmental systems, e.g. Intelligent Transportation System (ITS), is crucial to ensure coordination and communication between departments. The benefits of integration are:
- No operational cost when integrating databases
- Remove any multi-vendor interface and maintenance costs
- Time saved when common operational tasks are streamlined
- Faster informed decision making with quicker and more accurate data analysis
- Reduced “clutter” in the Bus Operator work area
For example, integrating the AFC with your ITS system would allow planners to optimize routes based on financial data to maximize revenue.
A Proven Fare Collection Technology Provider
The AFC provider is just as important as the AFC system itself. The provider should have a history of innovation in the face of changing demands of the transit industry. Questions you should ask about a potential provider include:
- Are they investing in the right technology to meet changing industry demands e.g. do they invest in magnetic or smart card technology, is NFC and payment wallets in your product road map?
- Are their products scalable or does the provider offer sufficient support for upgrades and new features?
- Do they provide other integrated transit support systems e.g. Traveler Intelligence?
- What do clients of the AFC provider have to say about their performance?
- Does the provider have a proven track record in always supporting their client with maintenance/repair service?
Choosing the right AFC provider is not easy, but doesn’t have to be frustrating if you know the essential features that will fit your agency’s needs. If you are interested in learning more about how the right AFC solution can change your transit agency, check out the features that our Trapeze EZFare solution offers.
Trapeze Group works with public transit agencies and their communities to develop and deliver smarter, more effective public transit solutions. For more than 25 years we have been "here for the journey," evolving with our public transport customers around the world helping them to move people from point A to Z and everywhere in between.