Europe

Mobility

• • • Year founded: 2016
  • HQ: Bern, Switzerland
  • FTEs: ~70
  • Key clients/partners: Swiss Federal Railways (SBB), the French National Railway Company (SNCF), Regionalbus Lenzburg, Aktiv Bus Flensburg
  Key executives: Gian-Mattia Schucan, Founder & CEO. McKinsey & Co; DPhil in Physics at Oxford; Head of Alliances, then Head of Distribution and Services, for SBB’s passenger division; left SBB in 2013 to start a consultancy firm, before setting up Fairtiq in 2016.

Even for the most seasoned public transport user, transit ticketing can often seem illogical and confusing. Regular users are forced to make stressful choices between buying a ticket, a day pass, or a long-term pass, while irregular users may be unsure how a new system works or how to get the best deal. Fairtiq aims to solve these problems, enabling a smooth, seamless transit experience for passengers in the process. 

On Fairtiq’s mobile ticketing app, users simply check-in at the start of each journey, and check-out at the end. Fairtiq uses location data to track the journey and modes of transport used (their data privacy policy is available here), and then calculates the best ticket price after the journey is completed. If you forget to check-out at the end of your journey, the app will automatically prompt you to do so.

Not only does the simplicity of Fairtiq’s market-leading smart ticketing software benefit customers, but public transport operators can gain valuable insights from the platform. Fairtiq’s check-in/check-out function means journeys are tracked from exact origin to exact destination, something which is not always possible using traditional season or paper tickets. Operators can use these insights to improve service provision, and to reform overly simplistic fare structures without negatively impacting passenger experience. 

Fairtiq’s industry-leading mobile ticketing product offers an excellent solution for both transit agencies with a mission to grow ridership, and for passengers looking to overcome uncertainty about their travel habits.

Fairtiq is continuing to expand its trial programs, whilst also converting pilots to long-term clients and expanding geographic coverage. The company is also exploring new B2B options aimed at employers, who can use the app to subsidise transit for employees.

Public transport operators, national and regional transport authorities, cities interested in MaaS