Alliance SwissPass transforms public transport with a new fare model

Project overview:

• A highly stable, scalable, and well-architected system delivered in just six months.

• Partnership with Zühlke facilitates a successful field test with 3000+ users.

• Positive feedback validates the new fare system’s potential and lays the foundation for the future of public transport.

The vision was to create a unified, distance-based fare system that would:

• eliminate the need for predefined zones or fares
• automatically determine the price for travellers before and after the journey
• provide transparency and frequent traveller benefits

However, this transformation presented significant challenges, requiring buy-in from customers and transport bodies while fundamentally reshaping how travellers are billed and how transport companies receive payments.

So, Alliance SwissPass wanted to conduct a comprehensive field test to evaluate the feasibility and acceptance of a new pricing system. Dubbed ‘myRIDE’, the project aimed to lay the groundwork for a simpler, scalable solution that meets the demands of modern transportation.

To achieve this, the association chose to partner with us thanks to our expertise in the transport industry and successful history of collaboration with SBB, Switzerland’s national railway company.

Fare engine transformation and stabilisation

Alliance SwissPass had already developed an initial price calculation algorithm to implement myRIDE’s distance-based pricing. However, the algorithm required stabilisation and improvements to handle the complexities of real-world scenarios and support enterprise-scale operations. It also needed to incorporate a subscription model, offering passengers lower fares the more they travelled.

Our software engineering team stepped in to transform the algorithm, originally developed in Python, into a robust Java-based engine fit for enterprise use.

Technical infrastructure development and integration

While developing the fare engine, our team worked on building a robust and scalable backend infrastructure for the new myRIDE fare system.

Since SBB already had a mobile app that would serve as a base for the field test, we focused on building the backend infrastructure and ensuring the seamless integration of the new fare engine into the application.

We designed the backend infrastructure with scalability and modularity in mind, ensuring it could support smooth operations even when the system scales to support millions of users.

Recognising that different companies operate trains, boats, buses, and other modes of transport, we also ensured that the new system could collect revenue from customers and accurately distribute it among all the transport operators involved in a journey. For example, when a passenger takes a bus followed by a train.

Collaboration impact

Through close collaboration and a clear focus on delivering a scalable, future-proof solution, we helped Alliance SwissPass take a meaningful step towards transforming public transport pricing in Switzerland.

Within just six months, we delivered a stable, enterprise-grade application capable of supporting millions of users, laying the groundwork for a seamless and innovative passenger experience.

The myRIDE field test, involving over 3,000 passengers, proved to be a resounding success. User feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with participants appreciating the simplicity of the system and the opportunity to influence its development early on.

By providing holistic support, we helped Alliance SwissPass set a new standard for public transport innovation in Switzerland. With the project’s initial goals successfully met, our focus will shift to scaling up and preparing for full public rollout in the coming years.