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Episode 6

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Published on:

8th Mar 2023

Andy Taylor: Transit Innovation Designed with the Rider in Mind

In February’s Transit Voices podcasts in 2023, Masabi co-founder Ben Whitaker talks to Mastercard’s Global Public Transport Leader, Andy Taylor.

In this episode, Ben and Andy discuss how any technological innovations in ticketing must have the passenger at the center, “It's about the consumer at the end of the day, and what the consumer is going to use and what they the consumer actually wants,” explains Andy.  “I think there's a lot of us within the technology space, and to a certain degree, there's quite a few agencies as well, who are more concerned about optimizing the technology or optimizing the operations or reducing the cost here or making something else more efficient. But at the end of the day, we all should be looking at it from the perspective of the end user who's tapping onto that system, who actually wants to be able to travel. How should we make that as easy as possible? How do we make it cost comparable, no matter what sort of payment solution you're looking for?”

The two talk about delivering off-the-shelf ticketing solutions that work for any sized agency, so that even the smallest can take advantage of technology to the benefit of travelers, “There are now platform solutions which allow them to access something that has already got all those bits figured out and won’t need reinventing,” comments Ben, while Andy says a menu of options that suits the agency is the way forward, explaining, “They are getting the best options that they want and the flexibility that they need to be able to build a system that they think is going to deliver what they need for their citizens.”

The pair lament problems with procurement meaning some great solutions have not been implemented, while Andy explains why different banking costs around the world have a major effect on the take-up of open payments and why his underdog is a mobility ID, that would allow a traveler to use public transit wherever they are without having to sign up to a different solution in a different city.

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About the Podcast

Transit Voices
With Ben Whitaker
Transit innovator Ben Whitaker looks to amplify the voice of those who have pushed the envelope and worked tirelessly to make public transit the backbone of people’s mobility. What results is a light-hearted conversation intertwined with reflections about the practical use of technology in the transit industry, reducing waste and getting the most for your public buck, and most importantly, getting people out of their personal cars and onto public transit and shared mobility whenever possible. As a technological pioneer in transport ticketing, Ben is passionate about not falling prey to the technological overhype and instead looking for practical solutions that will bring the most value to transit agencies and riders alike. This is a common thread throughout this podcast series and stands as the basis of the ‘Boondoggle vs The Underdog’ section of the episodes.