National Express West Midlands will introduce a ‘cash digitisation’ solution enabling passengers to purchase mobile tickets for bus services from retailers across the region using cash.
Following a partnership with payments-as-a-service provider Masabi and Payzone, passengers can pay in cash for mobile tickets using NX Bus’ mTicket app at some 1,300 retailers.
This service offers an upgrade to current ticketing options, according to the partnership, as it will make paying more convenient for passengers who wish to use cash. It also enables tickets to be displayed directly on smartphones.
“Local buses continue to provide an essential service to key workers today and will continue to be at the heart of local communities tomorrow,” said Daljit Kalirai, sales director at National Express West Midlands.
“This new partnership allows us to make it easier for passengers to discover, access and use our services using cash and their mobile phones. We’re excited to be working with Masabi and Payzone to provide our passengers with an additional contactless way of paying for National Express Bus services using cash.”
Passengers will be required to present their in-app Account ID barcode and select the ticket they would like to buy with the merchant, they can then pay for their ticket using cash. Payzone uses Masabi’s Justride External Orders API to securely send visual and barcode tickets directly to passengers using the mTicket app.
Brian Zanghi, CEO of Masabi, added: “Transport authorities and operators the world over are looking to contactless and cashless payment options as an essential part of their service to provide passengers with a quicker and more efficient way to travel, but it’s crucial we don’t leave any passenger groups behind.”
