Worldline reveals eight critical payment trends shaping the future of mobility

Enhanced payment options, changing commuter habits, open payment systems and Artificial Intelligence are listed in a white paper

Worldline, a global leader in payment services, has published a mobility payments white paper outlining the most significant trends that underpin how agile payment solutions can deliver smarter, more sustainable experiences. With global public transportation systems undergoing significant transformation driven by evolving passenger expectations, rapid technological innovation, tougher sustainability goals and the move towards more flexible work patterns, the report highlights the eight key trends shaping the future of payments.

With more than half of the world’s population now living in cities and the United Nations projecting this to rise to nearly 70% by 2050, transportation lies at the heart of the modern urban experience yet often lags behind other sectors when it comes to consumer technology, particularly in the area of payments.

With an accelerated transition from the traditional five-day commute and the rise of contactless payments in retail environments, the expectations of transportation users have advanced rapidly and significantly. According to Statista, contactless transaction value is growing at double-digit annual rates in many markets, reflecting a growing consumer preference for speed, convenience and safety.

The eight key trends identified within the white paper:

1 – The ever-growing wave of new digital payment options and the need to moving beyond cash and proprietary smart cards to bank-issued contactless cards and mobile wallets.

2 – The development of multi-modal and integrated ticketing points to a future where planning and payment for bus and train, e-scooter and ride-share can happen in a single unified environment.

3 – The transition from fixed commuter passes to Pay as You Go (PAYG) and Account-Based Ticketing (ABT) caters to changing work habits, offering travellers flexibility and convenience while providing Transportation Authorities (TAs) with valuable data on demand patterns.

4 – Open payments systems promise frictionless travel by enabling the use of credit and debit cards at fare gates, reducing barriers to entry for tourists and infrequent riders.

5 – Data-driven service optimisation and personalised marketing help TAs enhance efficiency, improve route planning and engage riders with targeted offers.

6 – Self-service terminals maintain their importance by catering to passengers who still prefer physical payment points while also evolving through the incorporation of touchscreens and contactless modules.

7 – Sustainability remains a central goal with green initiatives, loyalty rewards and carbon tracking tools being integrated into next-generation payment platforms.

8 – Artificial Intelligence (AI) is being deployed to transform many aspects of public transportation, especially in enhancing customer service, improving operational efficiency, boosting engineering effectiveness and adding new layers of safety and security. In particular, the white paper findings indicate that companies are more likely to invest in applied AI than in other leading-edge technologies.

Rémi Maeno, Head of Energy, Mobility and Self-Service verticals at Worldline Merchant Services, commented: “The trends identified in this white paper clearly demonstrate the importance of agile payment solutions in public transportation’s future. By modernising legacy systems, enabling interoperability and offering user-centric design, transportation authorities can reduce operational costs, increase ridership and minimise their environmental footprint. By taking on board the actionable recommendations contained within the white paper, they will be able to improve and accelerate their modernisation journey significantly.”

To maximise success, Transportation Authorities (TAs) need to ensure they have the right partnerships in place with banks and payment providers and coordinate their efforts to ensure minimal transaction fees and smooth settlement processes. TAs need scalable, modular payment solutions that support multiple payment options for a range of transportation services – especially as cities expand and mobility needs evolve. Payment solutions need to ensure fast, secure access to data while supporting multiple identifiers to ensure a consistent and user-friendly experience for passengers.

As the public transportation industry moves towards more agile, sustainable, and digital ticketing and payment methods, it will benefit from working with payment solution providers that place a high priority on interoperability, flexibility and user-centric design. The Worldline Mobility Payments Suite is specifically designed to help mobility businesses modernise their ticketing and payment systems, and deliver exceptional customer experience.

Worldline’s full white paper “Eight trends shaping the future of public transportation payments”, can be read here.

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With advanced payments technology, local expertise and solutions customised for hundreds of markets and industries, Worldline powers the growth of over one million businesses around the world. Worldline generated a 4.6 billion euros revenue in 2024.