Two students create an app that seeks to revolutionize payment in public transport through NFC technology

Paying for public transport with our cell phones seems ideal in these times, where everything is done virtually. Two students from the last cycles of the Information Systems Engineering career at the Peruvian University of Applied Sciences (UPC) have created a application that could unify the way we pay for our bus trips.

Guillermo Gonzales Cáceres and Fabricio Dávila Guarderas seek to revolutionize the payment system on buses by use an application and NFC technology: My LineCard. The project was born as part of the Capstone courses (project workshops). In these, the student develops an innovative proposal to solve a real problem by using technology, in order to generate a contribution to society.

Fabricio Dávila Guarderas and Guillermo Gonzales Cáceres, Information Systems Engineering students at the UPC and creators of My CardLine. | (Photo: UPC)

Trade spoke with both students to learn more about how this application works, why they use the NFC technologyand what contributes to the users and public transport companies. Can the payment system for bus trips in our country be revolutionized?

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What is the My LineCard app and how does NFC technology work?

The name of the app is based on the fact that it is paid online. “We gave it that name since the basic core of the application is a digital card. In this case, it will be used technologically, online. That’s why we gave it that name, My LineCardsuch as my ‘online card’, ‘my online card‘”, assures Dávila.

“Being in English, it sounds more striking than in Spanish, and it is a little smaller”, he adds. “We try to use a maximum of three syllables. No more than that”adds Gonzales.

This application uses NFC (near field communication) technology, which allows connections to be made based on distance. “Near Field Communication (NFC) is a set of short-range wireless technologies that typically require a distance of 4 cm or less to initiate a connection”, Android developers point out.

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This technology then allows users to share data between devices, which includes payments. “NFC allows you to share small payloads of data between an NFC tag and an Android deviceor between two Android devices”, indicates.

The equipment that has this technology supports three main modes of operation:

The latter is the one used in My LineCard. “We use it because it is a technology that is booming. Currently several people, without realizing it, already have this technology on their cell phone that only has to be activated. Therefore, we saw that there is an opportunity, because it is a tool that the user already hasGonzales points out.

By taking advantage of NFC technology, payments made with My LineCard are faster. | (Photo: UPC)

In addition to the fact that it is booming, it is also simple to learn how to use. “We found out that it is fast. It could be said that it is ‘cheap’, since users have it and it can be implemented for Android applications. We saw the most effective alternative for payment communication between the cell phone and the device“, Add.

In addition, the application has a lot of relevant information for users. My LineCard allows you to view data from lines affiliated with the app, their routes and the rates of the different transport lines. To this is added the payment history that the user has made and the details of their personal account.

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How does the My LineCard app work?

The payment process is simple: the application is opened, the cell phone is brought to the card to validate the payment and the receiver, the driver/collector, will see the payment once it has been completed. No coins or bills, no change, and no queues to pay. As simple as bringing the cell phone closer to the other device. The only thing essential is an internet connection.

“Everything is validated with the mobile application. Payment will only be made if the user has a balance in the app. This will alert the driver, either with a positive message, if the fare payment is successful, or with a negative alert.”, indicates Dávila.

The creators of My LineCard also thought about the security of users’ money and personal data. “When programming it, we were guided by some ISOs [certificados de estandarización] security for proximity cards. We find what is technically called a ‘hash’, which ‘encrypts’ the user’s password. That is to say, each user’s information is protected, so anyone trying to access your account will not succeed. Only the owner would be the only one who could enter and that is why all the information of the payments, of the personal data that is entered in the application will always be protected”, says González.

To pay with this app, you simply have to top up your balance virtually. “The recharge will be given digitally through a credit or debit card. If the card allows you to make an immediate payment, there will be no problem. It cannot be recharged with coins since it is digital”says Davila.

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“It has to be digitally, since what we are promoting is that cash be used less and cell phones more with NFC technologyGonzales points out. “Digital wallets could also be implemented. We are planning for the future, because using Plin or Yape is more commercialDavila adds.

Although there would still be the joint option of paying with coins, such as when the cell phone has no battery, both students hope that this app will change the way people pay for their tickets. “Not all disruptive technology has had an immediate impact that in a short time people change their mentality, their way of doing things”, indicates González.

However, the big step they will have to take with My LineCard will be to generate a consensus among thousands of companies and millions of users to use this form of payment. “There will be a lot of work in what is awareness, communication and promotion of our applicationsince everyone is used to paying with coins or a bill”, he assures.

How would transportation companies benefit from the My LineCard app?

In addition to reducing costs, such as not spending on tickets or some jobs, this app minimizes waiting times. On the other hand, My LineCard also provides relevant information to public transport companies.

“Currently there are already many buses that do not require a collector. They only use conductors. These companies have adapted to this system, so this type of payment would not be a problem. For the staff issue, companies would be saving what is the payment to a collector”, Gonzales asserts.

To this is added that not only users can take advantage of their payment information, but also companies can see their earnings and progress. “Apart from the user for the passengers, we also have a user for the administrators. It may not be mentioned much, but They will be able to see there all the payments that are made and they are also shown statistically the profitability from one month to the next.“, Add.

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Regarding the time factor, the students carried out a series of tests to find an average time in the payment delay: the result was that they paid in less than 5 seconds with My LineCard. “We did tests within a course unit with different people and the delay in paying involves many factors. Putting various scenarios and taking an average of time, our application will be much faster, since it manages to reduce this ticket payment time”, indicates Dávila.

Both university students also thought about how to benefit the other major players in this process, the transportation companies, since it is part of the idea of ​​generating good for society. “In our career in Information Systems Engineering we always highlight the fact that we must think not only of an actor, but of all the people involved the overall benefit, which comprises the majority”, concludes Gonzales.

My LineCard is not yet available for download, as it is a project that needs the support of the authorities. By having a projection of great magnitude, it would be necessary to include most of the public transport companies. Perhaps, in the future, payments for the Metropolitano or the electric train in Lima could even be integrated.

Source: Elcomercio