IBA Group’s solutions for public transport came under the limelight this month. MasterCard re-certified IBA validators and IBA Fare Collection System became a finalist in the Transport Ticketing Awards. 

MasterCard Re-Certifies IBA Validators

MasterCard conducted the initial certification of IBA validators during the COVID-19 pandemic. In October 2020, MasterCard experts from Great Britain conducted a detailed remote analysis of validator production, quality control, and management processes, and prepared their recommendations for improvement.

In late May 2022, the MasterCard International Payment System conducted another TQM compliance audit and re-certified the validators.

IBA Group provides a complete development and production cycle for the validator hardware and software, and the TQM certificate issued by MasterCard confirms the high quality of the public transport terminal manufactured by IBA Group.

IBA AFC Qualifies for Transport Ticketing Awards Finals

A panel of judges made up of industry-renowned executives selected IBA Group as a finalist for the tenth Transport Ticketing Awards in the Ticketing Technology of the Year category. Transport Ticketing Awards are part of the Transport Ticketing Global, the world’s largest public transport event for smart ticketing & mobility professionals. In 2020, the forum gathered more than 1,000 smart ticketing and mobility professionals. After two years away, the conference is back to explore the latest technological innovations and set the agenda for the year ahead.

For the contest, IBA Group submitted its Automated Fare Collection (AFC) solution implemented in public transport in Chisinau, the capital of Moldova. IBA Group completed the project in record time in cooperation with Visa, Victoriabank, the Chisinau Municipal Council, and local carriers.

The IBA Group’s tapXphone technology lies at the core of the solution. To use tapXphone, commuters do not need to download any applications, while conductors and fare inspectors do not need POS. They can use their smartphones to accept bankcard payments.

Full list of finalists

Read about IBA Group’s partnership with VISA on Smart Solutions.

Talk to us about how your business and your customers can benefit from IBA Group’s smart solutions.

Multi-faceted solution empowers passengers and transportation authority with contactless payment

This February, IBA Group engineers implemented and launched a SMART solution for the transportation authority of Oskemen, the administrative center of the East Kazakhstan Region of Kazakhstan.

The solution includes IBA’s proprietary Automated Fare Collection (AFC) and Automatic Vehicle Management (AVM) systems. It brings the legacy of IBA Group’s contactless payment expertise; and empowers passengers and the Oskemen Transportation Authority.

As a result of the project, passengers can use contactless cards to pay for rides on busses, trams, and minibuses. And the Transportation Authority can monitor and manage its fleet online.

Co-Creating SMART Cities

IBA engineers began nursing the idea of a smart city in the early 2000s. A partnership agreement with VISA gave momentum to bring these ideas to life. Using VISA technologies and the company’s IT expertise, IBA Group developed the Automated Fare Collection system to integrate advanced software and hardware, in compliance with payment card industry standards including PCI DSS.

In Kazakhstan, the Kazakhstan law on Public-Private Partnership made co-creation of the Oskemen transportation authority project possible.

Contactless Payment and Remote Monitoring for Transportation Authorities

IBA Group’s first AFC system dates back to 2014. Currently, thanks to IBA Group solutions, the city transportation authorities can analyze passenger traffic, fare inspector performance, and system-wide operability. Passengers enjoy easy payment using transport cards, credit and debit cards, or smartphones (currently on the city subway, city rail lines, and the one tram route).

In Kazakstan, IBA Group started its engagement in Oskemen by adjusting the AFC system to the habits of city residents. The reliable, easy to use contactless payment process means passengers only need to bring their contactless cards to one of the many validators installed by each vehicle’s door. There, the ride’s fare is collected automatically. One contactless card holds up to 7 types of fare (for example, a monthly bus pass, a single fare ride for rail transport, etc.). This simple solution provides interfaces with an elaborate fare system, including distance-dependent fares, a discount program, and the ability to accept cash fare payments. Currently, IBA Group’s equipment and software function covers more than 500 vehicles.