Payment Development in the Post-Metro App Era: Biometrics, Digital RMB and Virtual Electronic Tickets

Subway payment has experienced a series of changes from traditional ticket card, QR code to electronic virtual card, and subway App is the product of mobile payment era. What convenient and cutting-edge mobile payment technologies will subway operators continue to expand in the post-subway App era? How will biometrics, virtual electronic tickets and digital RMB be combined with subway mobile payment?

I. Background

Subway App refers to the official App independently built by urban rail transit companies, which mainly provides functions such as Internet ticket purchase and code scanning, as well as subway information inquiry, advertising marketing, online shopping mall and so on. The concept of subway App emerged in 20 18, when urban rail transit was actively promoting the Application of internet payment technology, so 20 18 can also be called the first year of subway app.

In the following two years, 20 19 and 2020, the subway App reached its peak, and all cities that opened the subway launched official apps. However, according to the investigation and statistics of the AFC Special Committee, in 20 19 years, more than one third of urban subway passengers scanned the code and crossed the gate, accounting for less than10%; In 2020, although the proportion of using scanning code has increased slightly, passengers who choose scanning code to purchase tickets still account for the majority (there is no need to download and install subway App for scanning code to purchase tickets). At the same time, many passengers are also complaining about various problems caused by downloading and installing the subway App separately. Metro companies in various cities have gradually realized that the practice of forcing passengers to download and use official apps is actually contrary to the service concept of public transportation.

Second, the exploration and present situation of mobile payment technology

In the post-subway App era, in order to break the stereotype that subway companies use official Apps to kidnap passengers, most subway companies choose to extend QR code e-tickets to different app platforms, which are no longer limited to official subway apps, such as WeChat and Alipay. In addition, some leading subway companies are also exploring more convenient mobile payment technologies.

(1) face recognition

1, wear a mask and brush your face.

The epidemic prevention work in COVID-19 is a protracted war, and the crowded semi-closed space of subway station is prone to the risk of cross-infection. Under the requirements of safety and epidemic prevention, it has become a trend to wear a mask and brush your face over the gate in order to improve the travel efficiency and ride experience of passengers. This mobile payment method fully meets the epidemic prevention requirements of "no ticket card", "no mobile phone" and "no contact" as well as registration and wearing masks in real-name registration system.

On behalf of subway cities: Chengdu and Harbin.

2, security ticket inspection integration

At present, passengers need to carry out security inspection and brake brushing in turn when entering the station, which is inefficient. In order to meet the needs of passengers to ride the subway quickly, a new type of equipment with security inspection machine and gate is developed, which allows passengers to complete the ride billing while passing through the security inspection channel. This integration scheme of security inspection and ticket checking effectively integrates the security inspection equipment and ticket checking equipment at the station, and constructs a security authentication system based on the passenger credit system, which realizes streamlining the entrance link, improving traffic efficiency, reducing management costs and ensuring safe and accurate control.

On behalf of subway cities: Chengdu and Beijing.

(2) Apple Pay virtual electronic card

The experience of using Apple Pay virtual electronic card is similar to using Apple Pay express transportation card. IPhone users can apply for a virtual electronic card in advance and bind it in their wallets. When riding, they only need to brush the iPhone in the gate reader/writer area, without unlocking, flashing screen, fingerprint or face authentication, suspending videos and games in the mobile phone, opening the app and taking out the QR code to aim at the gate scanning head. At the same time, using the "Apple Pay Virtual Electronic Card" can also enjoy ride discounts, including municipal cumulative discounts, ride red envelopes, Zhou Ka, card coupons and so on.

On behalf of the subway city: Beijing.

(3) Huawei Pay boarding code

Huawei mobile phone users can add a "ride code" to their mobile phone cards in advance. When they enter the station, double-click the power button of the mobile phone to call up the boarding code, and then they can scan the code and ride through the gate. There is no need to unlock or open any App during the whole process. At the same time, you can also enjoy the ride discount by using the "Huawei Pay ride code".

On behalf of the subway city: Harbin.

(4) Digital RMB

Digital RMB is legal tender in digital form issued by China's central bank, which is equivalent to cash such as paper money and coins, and has legal compensation. In the "Tenth Five-Year Plan" proposal, it is clearly stated that "digital currency's R&D will be steadily promoted". After upgrading the existing cash payment business module of the subway AFC system, the application and promotion of digital RMB can be realized, including digital RMB ticket purchase and digital RMB gate crossing.

On behalf of subway city: Suzhou.

Third, the future development ideas and prospects

The direction of scientific and technological development is often related to the background of the times. The epidemic situation in COVID-19 has a far-reaching impact, and the future of mobile payment technology must also fully consider epidemic prevention safety; Under the guidance of the major strategic goal of "peak carbon dioxide emission and carbon neutrality", new technology research and development must give consideration to "intelligence" and "green". In this context, the future development direction of subway mobile payment is as follows:

(1) biometric technology

Considering the requirements of wisdom, convenience, safety and epidemic prevention, biometric technology will be further promoted in the subway environment, including face recognition and palm vein recognition. Taking face recognition as an example, face-brushing payment can effectively solve the difficulties of the elderly in using intelligent technology, reflecting the characteristics of smart and convenient urban rail transit; At the same time, face recognition with masks is no longer a technical problem. Face recognition itself requires a real-name registration system, which fully meets the requirements of epidemic prevention.

(2) Digital RMB

In the current international situation where digital currency and digital economy are booming, the issuance of digital RMB will boost the development of China's economy and financial industry to a new stage and accelerate the transformation of digital China. As a city public transport service provider, the subway system has the obligation to promote the application of digital RMB in subway scenes. Based on the design concept of digital RMB, the AFC business system is reformed to provide passengers with comprehensive services based on a new concept.

(3) Virtual electronic tickets

Virtual electronic tickets, including QR code and NFC, will still be the mainstream tickets in the field of subway mobile payment. Different from before, the subway company turned its attention back to the virtual electronic ticket itself, rather than the virtual electronic ticket carrier. By optimizing the use experience of virtual e-tickets, the number of passengers will be increased, and the environmental pollution caused by the purchase, production, printing, cleaning and destruction of physical ticket cards will be further reduced.

The author is an employee of urban rail transit fare collection system, focusing on the application of Internet, big data, artificial intelligence and other technologies in rail transit industry.

This article comes from mobile payment network.