Vix Technology darts into US success with the Dallas Area Rapid Transit system, DART, choosing Vix’s state-of-the-art comprehensive fare payment system.

Paying your fare share is only fair, and paying it via an advanced, next-gen fare payment system is like scoring a bulls-eye on the DART board.

Well, that bit of artistic license aside, Vix Technology, an Australian company that says it is a ‘leader in smart ticketing and payment technology solutions,’ has been selected by DART, the Dallas Area Rapid Transit,’ to implement a new state-of-the-art comprehensive fare payment system.

It’s a deal with an estimated value of $US30 million over five years.

The new technology system from Vix will allow commuters in Dallas (the ninth-largest city and part of the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the nation) to pay and travel on the city’s buses and light rail network using their contactless bank cards and NFC-enabled smartphones (including Apple Pay and Android Pay).

Vix says the upgrade will make DART one of the most advanced networks in the world.

The deal builds on a successful year for the Australian founded and headquartered company, following transit ticketing contract wins in Malaysia, Rome and Thailand earlier in 2015.

Vix says its solution will be delivered through its ‘award winning eO (easy and open) product: an account based, open payments and PCI compliant fare collection platform.’

DART’s customers will be provided ‘with the flexibility to pay via NFC-enabled smartphones, third party or agency-issued transit cards, or use EMV contactless cards.’

DART’s Executive VP and CFO, David Leininger said: “The partnership with Vix Technology will put our region on the map with some of the most advanced fare collection systems in the world, providing a seamless and more user-friendly experience.”

Vix notes that ‘open architecture fare collection systems are rapidly becoming a focus in large urban cities with growing public transportation needs due to scalability, ease of integration with other systems already in place, and the opportunity to add surrounding regional transit partners.’

Doug Thomas, General Manager of Vix Americas said, “The introduction of a new contactless fare collection system that maximises convenience for riders in Dallas is a sign that transit operators are embracing innovative ways to improve customer experience and drive increased ridership.”

And DART is said to ‘recognise that account-based systems are the new standard for modern fare collection as they provide flexibility and ensure future-proof solutions that reduce costs.’

Unlike card based systems of the past, Vix said that ‘account-based systems allow riders to use the type of payment that is most convenient for them, including traditional agency-issued transit cards, EMV contactless bank cards, and NFC-enabled smartphone payments such as Apple Pay and Android Pay.’

This approach expands the available forms of fare payment media and also provides flexibility to implement complex fare policies since fare calculation and settlement occurs in the back office.

Steve Gallagher, CEO of Vix Technology, said, “We couldn’t be happier with the positive feedback and the growing, global customer base that is moving to implement our eO product.

“The system we are delivering in Dallas will allow DART to spend more resources developing and improving their transportation network and less time on payment collection and processing. Account-based systems are the way forward and we are excited to work with DART on this project.”

Various governments and transit operators around the world have chosen to partner with Vix to deliver next-generation solution.

One example is the Malaysian Government’s public transport regulator, which awarded Vix a contract in July 2015 to unify payments for the country’s multiple transit operators under a single transport ticketing system.

An earlier example from April 2015 concerns ATAC, Rome’s public transport authority, which selected Vix to upgrade its existing system to enable mobile ticketing and payments.

Then, in the same month, Vix was selected to establish a state-of-the-art payment clearing house for Bangkok’s newest train line, the third such central clearing house contract win by Vix in the country in the last four years.

They’re all examples from Vix’s Vix long history in the transit sector in the Asia Pacific Region, developing the world’s first public transport smartcard system in Darwin in 1987.

And in another local example, Vix has also recently been responsible for upgrades to the Myki network in Melbourne installing speedy new gate infrastructure and managing back-end payment and account systems in partnership with NTT Data.

So, if you’re having problems with a chest cold, turn to Vicks. If you’re having problems with your public transport ticketing system, Vix would like to show you its snazzy transportation ticketing tricks!