400,000 people have reportedly utilized the system, and 650,000 "taps" using bank cards and mobile wallets have been made via fare validators on vehicles, according to local transport provider Autolinee Toscane (AT). About 50% of the cards used on the system were issued overseas, indicating its popularity among travelers and infrequent riders. Of them, 60% are sporadic users, having made less than two taps during this time.


"These figures show that contactless payment using a card or smartphone is proving popular, especially with people who don't ride our buses regularly and those who are visiting Tuscany from overseas," said Tommaso Rosa, head of marketing and brand communication at AT, in reference to the success. To board a bus and go across cities or from one to another, they don't need to comprehend the ticketing system. It's quite easy to explore our region by bus, with open payments available on 1,000 lines.

Kuba and AT collaborated to put the open-loop technology into place. It is a continuation of the account-based ticketing system that Kuba had put in place when AT assumed control of Tuscany's bus system in 2021. A single platform was used in place of the eight ticketing systems that were previously run by 23 bus companies throughout the transition.

TipTap Promotion through Visa

In order to allow customers to use their bank card or mobile wallet as a transport ticket, Kuba put over 6,000 cEMV-enabled validators on over 3,000 urban, suburban, and intercity buses as well as 40 trams.
 

The account-based ticketing back office of Kuba calculates fares, while Littlepay, a specialized payment service provider, processes contactless EMV fare payments.

The data was also presented by Giuseppe Russotti, general manager of Kuba in Italy: "It is a great honor to provide the technical solution for seamless payments on public transport across Tuscany." The project is unlike anything we've seen in Europe in terms of magnitude, and its successful completion is a credit to excellent teamwork. We are appreciative of the partnership with Autolinee Toscane and Littlepay, as it has made it easier for visitors to enjoy this breathtaking area.
 

AT also collaborated with Visa to start a broad consumer-facing marketing effort aimed at inspiring through TipTap. In addition to promoting open-loop ticket payments' ease and convenience, the campaign advertised Visa's offer of free rides to travelers utilizing the contactless system from April 10 to May 5.

The intricate execution of open-loop fare payments and account-based ticketing throughout Tuscany has been managed by Kuba's Rome-based Italian team. The company, formerly known as Vix Italia, has announced that it has joined the Kuba Group. Through this strategic collaboration, Kuba's dedication to revolutionizing account-based mobility payments is combined with decades of experience in the Italian transport ticketing sector.