HID, a worldwide leader in trusted identity and biometric authentication solutions, recently published its State of Mass Transit Ticketing Hardware Report 2025 based on a survey of 102 mass transit providers worldwide.
Five key priorities that decision-makers should consider emerging from this year’s survey findings:
- Reducing reliance on cash payments to streamline fare collection and operations
About 43% of agencies aim to implement contactless ticketing systems, with 88% planning
deployment within the next 12–24 months.
- Enhancing passenger experience by prioritizing convenience and faster ticketing transactions
Nearly two-thirds of agencies rank user-friendly interfaces as the most important feature in
ticketing hardware.
- Expanding contactless and mobile payment options to address rising demand
Open-loop EMV contactless systems remain a top priority, with 43% of agencies planning deployments within the next five years. Europe currently leads mobile ticketing adoption, with 86% of their agencies using app-based solutions, compared to 58% globally.
- Collecting detailed ridership data to inform strategic decision-makers
More than half of respondents say they will prioritize single ticketing interfaces that can read multiple ticket types, are user-friendly and provide data.
- Reducing dependency on proprietary ticketing systems by adopting flexible, open-architecture solutions
Solutions built on open architecture are a high priority for 40% of respondents, indicating the need for solutions to evolve as the industry’s needs change. Proprietary technology remains a significant hurdle, particularly in Latin America and the Asia-Pacific.
Mass transit fare collection and ticketing processes are undergoing a passenger-centric revolution driven by technology, making it essential for agencies to select the right partner and hardware solutions that can evolve alongside industry demands.
