In Caen, the FAIRTIQ pay-as-you-go app is simplifying public transport

Pay as you go: simplifying payments and making public transport more attractive 

Occasional public transport users sometimes wonder when purchasing their transport ticket: where and how do I buy a bus or tram ticket? What connections are possible with a single ticket and at what price? To remove this barrier and provide a seamless service at the best possible price, the Syndicat Mixte Atoumod (SMA), responsible for the multimodal coordination of 17 public transport networks in Normandy, decided to test the FAIRTIQ pay-as-you-go app on the urban networks in Le Havre and Caen, as well on the Caen-Le Havre intercity line.

The simplicity of FAIRTIQ has impressed the SMA. After downloading the app onto their smartphone and providing their banking information, the passenger can signal (by swiping right) on the app to indicate when they board a vehicle. Upon disembarking or transferring, the system automatically detects that they are changing modes of transport or leaving the bus or tram, then calculates the fare for the journey (post-payment by credit card). In case of a ticket inspection, the traveler can present their smartphone. 

The testing phase began in early 2023 at a Keolis Lab to study the functionalities and deployment methods of the application and the pay-as-you-go pricing. The field test phase was launched in July 2023 and will conclude at the end of the first quarter of 2024. 

Pay as you go to pay the best price for public transport 

The innovation brought by FAIRTIQ is twofold. On one hand, it provides simplified access to public transport for "occasional regular" users, who use public transport regularly but intermittently (one to three trips per week, for example) and for whom a subscription pass is not necessarily suitable. The flexibility of pay-as-you-go pricing means that these users do not need to purchase individual tickets or a transport pass, which saves them valuable time.

The pay-as-you-go principle allows passengers to obtain the best possible fare price. Journey data, hosted on the cloud, enables individualized billing that reflects the best fare (a single ticket, day pass or other ticket option) based on actual usage. This information is stored on a secure cloud to ensure the maximum protection of users' personal data. If the passenger makes more than three trips in a day, then the €4 "24-hour ticket" fare will automatically apply. The user's bill is sent as soon as their transport total reaches €15. If this amount is not reached, then the bill is triggered after five days of use or on the last day of the month.

An increasingly appreciated post-payment solution 

The FAIRTIQ solution, which combines ease of use and savings, has all the right features to attract users. The pay-as-you-go technology is proven, as the app was created in 2017 and has been deployed in six countries by 86 operators so far. It ensures a stable, secure service through data protection and secure cloud storage.

This innovative solution has gradually gained recognition since its launch in July 2023, with only about 30 monthly downloads. However, its popularity has been growing since the information campaign launched in October 2023, as well as through word of mouth.

Moving toward a combination of services in a single app? 

The FAIRTIQ app’s users have provided largely positive feedback. The service may soon be promoted through new information campaigns to attract an even wider audience of new users.

In the long term, FAIRTIQ's pay-as-you-go services may be integrated into Twisto, the Caen la mer urban community’s mobility app. Simplifying public transport use for everyone remains a top priority for Keolis.