Ticketer’s First Multi-Currency Contactless Customer

5 July 2018

Ticketer has processed its first ever contactless euro and sterling transaction, for First Aircoach in Dublin. The new multi-currency electronic ticket machines (ETMs) were installed two months ago for the two million passengers travelling between Dublin city, Belfast and Dublin Airport each year.

Four of the services are based in the Republic of Ireland and only use the Euro, but one crosses the border between Belfast city centre and Dublin Airport, so Ticketer had to tailor the solution for the ETMs to accept payments in both euros and sterling. The ETMs accept all types of payments, with contactless flexibility offered through the payment service provider Littlepay.

Dervla Mc Kay, Managing Director of First Aircoach, comments: “We are thrilled to have been able to launch contactless to our customers at the end of May. The team at Ticketer have come up with a solution that fits our cross-border operation perfectly and our customers are seeing the benefits with over 6,000 contactless transactions taking place within two weeks of launching. At Aircoach, we are committed to providing our customers with high quality public transport services and the launch of contactless further delivers on this commitment.”

First Aircoach is the first customer that Ticketer has enabled euro payments for, and the ETMs will switch between currencies as required, showing the ticket price in both. It was a necessity for First Aircoach because journeys can start or end on either side of the border.

Amin Shayan, CEO of Littlepay, notes: “The use of multiple currencies on contactless EMV on these routes creates a truly seamless customer journey, with First Aircoach benefitting from the security provided by the Mass Transit Transaction (MTT) framework. The solution is a result of great collaboration between Littlepay and Ticketer, and First Group’s agile, partnership approach.”

As well as the on board ETMs, Ticketer is also supplying machines for the Travel shop in Belfast and mobile retailers based at Dublin Airport. Both of the airport terminals are served by mobile ticket machines for passengers to buy tickets before they board the bus.

John Clarfelt, Managing Director of Ticketer, comments: “Things have certainly moved on since we developed our first web-based solution eight years ago. We are consistently evolving and developing new, tailored solutions for our customers. It’s down to the innovative work that our deeply passionate and committed team continues to develop that we are able to deliver more and more benefits for our customers and of course for their passengers.”