Kuba, an integrated ticketing solution provider, has partnered with La Banque Postale, a bancassurance group, to deploy a new open payment ticketing system across public transport in the city of Orléans, in Northern France.
On 19 March, Orléans Métropole presented its new open payment ticketing system, deployed by Kuba in partnership with La Banque Postale. Bank cards will be accepted on the city’s bus and tram networks, and Orléans Métropole anticipates significant adoption by locals and visitors alike.
Romain Roy, vice president of mobility and transport at Orléans Métropolem, said: “Open payment allows regular transport users and visitors to pay for their journeys with their bank card, smartphone or connected watch. By simplifying the lives of travellers, its introduction represents an important step towards encouraging more use of public transport.”
Open payment-compatible validation terminals, integrated with new ticketing software, have launched on all public transport vehicles to offer passengers a quick and simplified journey.
The solution will be put into service this month to enable passengers to use their bank card, whether physical or on mobile, as a transport ticket. By tapping their card or device on the new Kuba validators, they will be able to enjoy a seamless journey, benefiting from fares that are automatically adapted to their route.
Kuba won the opportunity to deploy open payment on the TAO network (Orléans) after a competitive tender process. Tarik Dinane, managing director of Kuba, also commented: “As a long-standing partner of Orléans Métropole, it was a great privilege to be selected to advance its next phase of innovation.
“We are pleased to be invited here today, along with our partner La Banque Postale, to see this installation completed smoothly, on time and on budget.”
Transitioning to open payments
La Banque Postale, through its subsidiary eZyness, enables travellers to pay by bank card for their single tickets and their subscriptions, on the various channels available, physical machines, TPE, digital reservation platform or directly in a mobility situation with open payment. Payment service provider Littlepay also acts as Kuba’s ticketing partner for the acquisition and distribution of multi-channel collection flows.
Invoicing occurs afterwards, with the most advantageous fare for the user applied, depending on the combination of journeys taken.
La Banque Postale has developed expertise in the field of open payment as an electronic payment acquirer, with a partner-based offer. It was the first French bank to implement the GIE Carte Bancaire open payment solution in 2019, which has been launched in Amiens, Rennes, and on the connections of Orly and Roissy airports.
Kuba took on the two challenges posed by the project: a tight deadline for the implementation of open payment, as well as a temporary co-existence with the ticketing platform already in place to manage the end-of-life of the magnetic ticket.
For Orléans Métropole, the TAO network must offer users a range of payment methods during the transition to open payment.
