beep™ pioneers QR ticketing for transport in PH Topline Express Ferries move from conventional paper tickets to QR

AF Payments Inc., the company that modernized payment and ticketing in transportation through beep™, implements the first QR code transport ticketing system in the Philippines.

Cebu-based Topline Express Ferries will now be using QR code technology for payment and passenger ticketing. A QR code (abbreviated from Quick Response Code) is a two-dimensional barcode that stores information that can be read rapidly by a QR reader, thereby allowing quick passenger validation and entry into the paid or boarding areas.

“This is a new era in transport ticketing. It’s a smart solution where both operators and commuters enjoy the efficiency and ease of use associated with QR technology. We are grateful to Topline Express Ferries for supporting this initiative and hope to replicate the same elsewhere in the Philippines,” said Joey Lim, Chairman of the Board of AF Payments Inc.

“We are proud to say that our technology is developed in the Philippines, by Filipinos, for Filipinos. To accelerate the growth of QR ticketing and payments in the country, we are opening our QR ticketing ecosystem to other market players. We invite transport operators, payments companies, and developers to work with us in widening the reach of QR ticketing. For more information on how you can participate in this initiative, visit our business website at <business.beeptopay.com>,” said Rene Almendras, President of AF Payments Inc.

AF Payments Inc. is making the QR Ticketing Standard available at <https://github.com/afpayments/QCAT_QR_TICKETING_STANDARD> for interested parties to study the technology and to participate in its further development.

How it works

Commuters have to buy their QR code-based tickets that they will scan before boarding the ferry. The new system will replace manually validated paper tickets to ensure quicker validation and hassle-free commuter experience.

In addition to the beep™-powered Topline Express Ferries tap cards, AF Payments Inc.is bringing in the modern convenience of mobile payments. In partnership with GCash, passengers of Topline Express Ferries can now pay their fare using the GCash mobile app. To do this, commuters have to go to the ticket counter, open their GCash app, choose Pay QR, generate their own QR code, and scan it on the beep™ QR reader. The QR ticket will automatically print and the fare will be deducted from their GCash account.

“We are very excited to be the pioneer marine transportation partner of AF Payments Inc. in Cebu. Topline believes in enhancing the commute experience. Passenger safety and convenience are a priority to us, so this is a much-needed development that will greatly benefit the riding public,” said Eugene Erik Lim, President/CEO of Topline Express Ferries.

“We are committed to improve the payment experience of the riders of Topline Express Ferries. Our partnership with AF Payments Inc. allows us to use our QR code to facilitate a convenient way of paying. GCash users can now pay for their Topline ferry rides using the GCash App. We plan to replicate this model with other transport service providers. As we continue to find ways to enable a cashless ecosystem, we will always challenge ourselves to explore more ways to leverage on our technology to improve the experience of our customers. Because with GCash, what can’t you do?” said Anthony Thomas, Chief Executive Officer of Mynt.

With 6.5 million beep™ cards in the market and over 20 million GCash account holders nationwide, this initiative is expected to benefit a sizable portion of e-wallet customers in the country. Passengers can now enjoy more options to pay and get tickets for their daily commute. QR tickets are easy to use and reduce implementation and integration costs for public transport operators. The rich data conveyed through QR code tickets helps operators accurately and timely record transactions. With its speed and ease of use, commuters also stand to benefit from this technology.

An MPIC-Ayala Corp. consortium, AF Payments Inc. provides contactless payment solutions with integrated product and service offerings that aim to enhance the transaction experience of every Filipino. It launched the beep™ card, the tap-and-go payment card used in all three elevated railways (LRT1, LRT2, and MRT3) and select PUVs and modern jeepneys, tollways, and retail partners. More information about beep™ is available at its website and official social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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About AF Payments Inc.

AF Payments Inc. is a consortium of Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) and Ayala Corp. that provides contactless payment solutions in the Philippines through its integrated product and service offerings, thereby enhancing the transaction experience of every Filipino.