Following the introduction of the FAIRTIQ app in the Zlín Region on July 1, 2024, remarkable success has been achieved. In just the first month, the app was downloaded over 6,400 times in the region, by travellers of all ages eagerly embracing this new technology. Within the initial 4 weeks, over 10,000 trips were recorded, showcasing the immediate and widespread interest and adoption of FAIRTIQ. This rapid success has not only exceeded initial expectations but also demonstrated the region’s readiness and excitement for the FAIRTIQ technology.
Cumulative FAIRTIQ downloads in the region of Zlín, July 2024
The Zlín region in the south-east corner of Czechia is the first area in Central and Eastern Europe to implement FAIRTIQ's mobile pay-as-you-go (MPAYG) ticketing solution for public transport. The successful take-off is the result of the commitment of KOVED, the Zlín Region Public Transport Authority with strong support by the region’s elected officials. The official launch was accompanied by an extensive offline campaign, including billboards and posters across the region, to raise awareness for the new, innovative ticketing solution.
Since January 2021, KOVED has been developing Zlín Region Integrated Transport (IDZK) to become a more seamless and integrated network, by integrating the region’s various public transport operators to make travelling faster, easier and more comfortable. Thanks to KOVED's team of thirty dedicated experts, much has already been achieved. But when KOVED set out to overhaul the previously fragmented ticketing system, its ambitions were in danger of being thwarted by the reality of traditional ticketing hardware and software vendors who, as Jakub Zach puts it, "were not flexible enough to meet the needs of transport authorities".
The new fare structure for the IDZK is called the Next Generation Tariff. It includes fixed prices from A to B without any differentiation by mode, number of transfers or operator. However, implementing this innovative tariff in the traditional distribution channels is expensive and takes years – too long for KOVED and IDZK and their ambitious plan to fast-forward Zlín's public transport system into the future. Deputy Governor for Transport Radek Doležel and his team searched for a solution and selected FAIRTIQ in the fall of 2023 to provide a fully digital check-in system for seamless multimodal public transport throughout the region. FAIRTIQ welcomed the opportunity to support KOVED, as their plans align with our vision to simplify sustainable mobility internationally.
Cumulative FAIRTIQ trips in the region of Zlín, July 2024
Before the actual start of the collaboration, FAIRTIQ meticulously studied the new fare structure to ensure that the right solution could be delivered at the right time and price. From the very beginning, FAIRTIQ and KOVED worked closely together. With a tight implementation schedule, there was really no alternative to a fully integrated, hands-on collaboration.
The intensive cooperation proved incredibly fruitful, thanks to the IDZK team’s deep professional knowledge, goal-oriented behaviour and strong commitment to project success. In turn, Jakub Zach was deeply impressed by FAIRTIQs project management.
Following the launch of the FAIRTIQ App in July 2024, the New Generation Tariff is now available to all app users in the region. The transition in classic sales channels requires additional procurement and development and will therefore not be completed until the end of 2025. The successful launch of the New Generation Tariff in the FAIRTIQ App is, however, only the beginning.
The FAIRTIQ team is up for the challenge. Regions that have already established an authority and created a multimodal fare table - or are in the process of doing so - can partner with FAIRTIQ to offer their passengers an easy-to-use mobile PAYG solution. In the absence of integrated tariffs, FAIRTIQ can accelerate the seamless travel experience by enabling Check-in/Check-out across all modes and offering individual ticket purchases.
FAIRTIQ is excited about the prospect of continuing its successful collaboration with KOVED and IDZK in Zlín and building more partnerships in the Czech Republic and beyond - for stronger, more attractive public transport systems that provide seamlessly integrated, fair-priced travel for all passengers – east, north, south, and west.