La Belgian rail company SNCB tests 'FTQ Lab' purchasing systeman innovative technology that makes travelling by train even simpler. Via an application, in future, passengers will be able to check in as soon as they enter the station and check out as soon as they reach their destination. Using GPS data, the route would then be detected from start to finish. This would automatically generate a bill for the journey, paid via the application..
This technology, developed by the company Fairtiq, has a number of advantages: it allows you to saves time and significantly improves the customer experience because you no longer need to enter your details (personal details, departure and arrival station, etc.), buy your ticket and keep it.
What's more, passengers are guaranteed a ticket at the best pricedepending on their route and profile (age, etc.). Another advantage is that this technology requires no infrastructure. It is based on the GPS functionality present in all smartphones. This innovation also ensures smoother journeys, since the process is fully automated.
10,000 testers for the future application
SNCB carried out an initial test with 440 SNCB employees and passengers in 2020. This enabled the accuracy of the technology to be verified and customer satisfaction to be measured. At this stage of the test, it was not yet possible to purchase tickets via this system.
A second test phase now includes ticketing. 10,000 testers will be able to find arange of SNCB products (Senior, Youth, Weekend, Standard tickets). The service has proved so successful that it is set to be rolled out across the board.
Traditional sales channels will of course continue to apply. The 'FTQ Lab' mobile phone app can be downloaded on a voluntary basis.
Since 2019, the SNCB has set up theInnovation Lab. Its aim is to integrate new technologies to serve passengers. The teams atInnovation Lab analyse new trends, test new technologies and work to implement them.
