Despite the growing population interest in digital payments through alternative means, such as contactless payments, some still prefer to pay with cash. This way, Transport for London (TfL) has discarded plans to leave Tube, Overground and DLR stations without cash, as these transactions are still convenient for many people.
Although cashless payments have grown in popularity, given the technologies that facilitate this reality, cash is still very important for many public transportation users. The goal is to ensure accessibility for all.
In view of the complex and changing situation today, TfL had decided in the summer of 2020 to remove cash from about 200 stations. However, the organization has changed its mind and will not make this permanent change for the time being.
In fact, it was considered that banning money in ticket vending machines was not a solution, even because about 260 thousand londoners do not have a bank card and would have been caught out by a permanent change.
Besides, there are other reasons to continue to invest in a public transportation system with cash, such as the following:
- Privacy issues
While cashless systems offer convenience, caution should be taken to ensure that personally identifiable information is treated appropriately. The goal is that passenger information does not fall into the wrong hands.
- Systems may not be intuitive
Although this issue is not directly related to cash, cashless fare systems can serve as a barrier to people visiting a city for the first time, for example.
So, for many users, paying in cash is also related to notions of security and convenience, key factors valued by many people to the detriment of digital payment methods.
PARTTEAM & OEMKIOSKS’ contribution
In fact, instead of removing the cash entirely, PARTTEAM & OEMKIOSKS has been developing efficient and innovative ways for transport operators and companies in the sector to facilitate secure payments, namely through payment kiosks and self-service ticketing kiosks.
Transaction or payment kiosks
With technological advances, payment solutions are passing through interactive kiosks, increasingly used in public transportation.
Today, transactional or payment kiosks allow anyone to make payments independently.
PARTTEAM & OEMKIOSKS equipment can be provided with payment systems through bill readers, cash registers or payment by ATM card, NFC, etc.
These transactional kiosks help to significantly reduce long queues in busier locations, which in turn helps to make it easier to maintain social distance by protecting customers and employees.
It also reduces the need for cash handling and counting, making the entire cash management process more efficient, while providing organizations with an effective way to empty and replenish their cash management terminals.
This way, payment kiosks are also an asset to public transportation systems with cash.
Self-service ticketing kiosks
Self-service ticketing kiosks integrate a global concept of Smart Cities, friendly to locals and tourists. The benefits of urban transport rehabilitation are a proven success in the world’s most developed cities.
The great purpose of these kiosks is to make it easier for regular and occasional passengers to use public transportation. Connecting the carriers with the public administration, these kiosks provide statistical and detailed information, while reducing financial costs and focusing human attention on areas of greater relevance.
Moreover, self-service ticketing kiosks allow a much faster service, with less costs and anywhere. The advantages are, thus, visible to customers and companies.
PARTTEAM & OEMKIOSKS ticketing kiosks can get different configurations, they are highly agile, and it is possible to integrate applications and other components such as printers, card readers, webcam, keyboards, etc.
These kiosks are customized and designed to engage with the environment around them. They are easy and intuitive to use, which generates benefits such as:
- Ticket sales;
- Access control;
- Reduction of queues;
- Reduction of human resources involved;
- Personalized experience;
- Ability to make payments in various ways.
This way, PARTTEAM & OEMKIOSKS has developed several models of ticketing kiosks with the latest technology.
Multitasking is the EXOZ model, a ticket vending machine (TVM) chosen to integrate Parques de Sintra project. For this specific case, the EXOZ model was designed and developed by PARTTEAM & OEMKIOSKS to be used outdoors, with additional air conditioning and protection systems.
EXOZ was also chosen for the YELLOW BUS, in Lisbon. The sale of tickets was, thus, made through a ticket vending machine (TVM) or, more specifically, through the PARTTEAM & OEMKIOSKS self-service kiosk EXOZ touchscreen.
GALLA TRANSACT self-service kiosks from PARTTEAM & OEMKIOSKS, which can be found at the entrance of the Lisbon Zoo, also provide a personalized and autonomous service.
PARTTEAM & OEMKIOSKS has developed, for OTLIS, the VIVA kiosk, which allows to issue, renew and charge the Lisboa VIVA card on the spot, all in the same place and self-service. The model chosen for the development of this project in the Carris Customer Space at Arco Cego, in Lisbon, and at the Fertagus station, in Pragal, on the South Bank, was the EXDALI kiosk of PARTTEAM & OEMKIOSKS. Besides allowing users to become more autonomous, they are easy to use, making the user experience more pleasant and satisfactory. For Alameda station, in Lisbon, a ticket sales kiosk was produced.
So, although we are moving towards a society that prefers contactless or cashless payments, it is important to realize that there are still reasons why we should continue to increase the use of cash.
Aware of this situation, PARTTEAM & OEMKIOSKS continues to develop solutions that contribute to sustainable mobility and to the improvement in the quality of service and citizen experience – without neglecting cash payments.
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