Public transit in Slovakia’s largest region goes contactless
In November, Banská Bystrica, the sixth largest region in Slovakia by area, joined a rapidly growing number of European cities and regions moving steadily towards universal adoption of contactless payments. Public transit operator IDS BB has launched an innovative project that is dramatically changing the way passengers on the regions transit network pay to ride, transforming their bank card into their ticket thanks to Switchio’s comprehensive cEMV payment solution.
The benefits are undeniable
As of November 2023, IDS BB passengers purchasing bus tickets at customer centres can enjoy the same level of payment convenience they know from the retail setting, where purchases are as quick and easy as tapping a bank card on an electronic terminal.
Beginning in 2024, the new payment system will be expanded to include in-vehicle ticket purchases, saving passengers time by allowing them to skip the customer centre all together and go directly to the bus stop.
The new platform represents a major upgrade in the experience that IDS BB provides to its passengers, particularly those who prefer the freedom of a cashless lifestyle. Meanwhile, Switchio’s tokenization gateway offers easy integration with third-party applications, while PCI-DSS compliance ensures sensitive cardholder data is never compromised.
Modernizing public transit in Europe one region at a time
The project was overseen on behalf of Switchio by Karel Schuch. “The trend has been clear for some time now. We know, because we’ve helped set it. Banská Bystrica joins the growing ranks of progressive European regions who understand that a modern fare payment experience is just as important as a fleet of modern buses. I’d like to thank our technology partners and, namely, Radoslav Vavruš of IDS BB, for helping us bring this remarkable project to fruition quickly and smoothly.”
