A key area of an efficient transport operator includes the management of fare collection. With advances in technology, automatic fare collection has become a great option for many carriers.
In this article, we’ll walk you through the different types of Automatic Fare Collection (AFC) and the benefits of these systems.
What are the different types of automated fee collection?
AFC is an intelligent process that involves collecting various types of fares from passengers, without the use of manual or physical tools, such as cash transactions or coin machines.
This is achieved using AFC systems, which allow receiving and validating any rate efficiently through complex software. Passengers can complete their journeys with ease and the transportation company can process payments without any hassle.
The type of AFC system that is implemented will vary depending on the needs of the transit agency or operator and what the AFC software provider offers. There are different forms of AFC systems, including:
1. Card-based and account-based ticketing systems
With card-based ticketing, all crucial fare data – account, product and trip information – is stored directly on the fare carrier, which is typically a card. Often this can be another form of payment medium, such as a smart token, but a card is the most common.
When the card is scanned at the device, the device calculates the fees and the current balance is written to the card, where all the information is saved. This happens on every media presentation to the device and is a traditional card-centric model.
With account-based ticketing, all travel and account information is stored in one administrative system, as opposed to the card or token. The back office manages the rate calculation and applies the necessary rules to the account.
When you present your card or token to the device, the back office is notified of the action and performs the necessary actions on the account, informing the device of the result. This is known as the fee media model.
2. Closed-loop and open-loop AFC systems
With closed-loop AFC systems, devices will only accept specific cards that have been configured for use in the operator’s services. They can be travel cards, for example, which are for exclusive use with transit operators.
When it comes to an open-loop AFC system, the devices can accept a wide variety of payments outside the scheme, for greater convenience for passengers and operators.
For example, this may include EMV payments or contactless EMV (cEMV) payments on board the service, not just travel cards.
Essentially, to find the best type of AFC, make sure you choose a provider with extensive experience in delivering high-quality systems to monitor, review, and adjust every aspect of your transportation rates.
What are the benefits of automatic fee collection?
Using AFC offers several benefits, including:
1. More ease and efficiency
Using an AFC system may be an easier and more efficient method of processing rates.
Every time a passenger needs to pay a fare, their transaction can be completed with maximum speed through cloud-native software. This will not only enable faster payments and full visibility into fee management, but also ensure there are no delays in data collection.
2. Improved customer experience
Using an efficient AFC system, passengers no longer need to queue to buy a physical ticket or waste time looking for extra money to put in a machine to finance their trip.
Instead, accessible and instant purchases can be made on their mobile device, for example, where they can easily see what fare options they can purchase.
This creates a more satisfying experience for passengers and a smoother entry of customers using transportation services.
3. Quick resolutions for any issues
Additionally, there can often be an option to use remote device management to discover any issues that may arise with devices and validators.
This could be, for example, if a validator has stopped working or is not correctly processing passenger transactions.
By identifying and addressing these issues early, you can create a more satisfying customer experience.
On top of this, operators can run a more efficient service and won’t risk losing any potential revenue due to device issues.
Now that you know the different types of AFC available, as well as the variety of benefits it can provide, contact an expert AFC provider today!
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Categories: Technology
Source: vtt.edu.vn