Mobile phones are just the ticket for First customers

First UK Bus confirmed today the launch of mobile ticketing trials in its Aberdeen and Worcester businesses.

The initiative has been introduced to make it easier for customers to buy tickets

In a first for FirstGroup’s bus division, from today bus customers will be able to use their mobile phones as bus tickets. The company has launched a new app, ‘First Bus Mobile Tickets’, where customers can purchase a range of tickets. Once purchased customers can simply show the driver the ticket on their mobile phone screens. Customers need no longer purchase a ticket from the driver.

The initiative has been introduced to make it easier for customers to buy tickets and remove the worry of not having the correct change as well as speed up boarding times. First is confident that the new approach will encourage more people to travel by bus.

Talking about the new initiative, Giles Fearnley, Managing Director of First UK Bus, said: “This is good news for our customers. I am confident that the app will be enthusiastically welcomed by many of our passengers and will strongly support our strategy to attract new customers. We will be rolling this app out across all our networks through 2014.”

To launch the initiative First Aberdeen today hosted a nostalgic look at bus ticketing. The company had on show a 1930s Albion bus, where customers would pay a conductor who used a hand held ticket machine. Also on display was one of the company’s brand new vehicles where customers can now simply show the driver their mobile phone.

Meanwhile First Worcester will launch mobile ticketing outside Worcester Tourist Information Centre on Thursday (13 March). The company’s mascot, Freddie the Frog, and the marketing team will offer demonstrations and hand out leaflets and free tickets to customers.

Customers can purchase a range of products including FirstDay, FirstWeek and First4Week tickets using the ‘First Bus Mobile Tickets’ app, which is available for free on App Store and Google Play. Customers simply download the app, register, select the ticket they want and navigate the secure payment system. Once the payment section is complete, bus tickets live in a virtual wallet ready for the customer to show the driver. Repeat users need only select the required tickets and confirm their debit/credit card’s security code.

First’s mobile ticketing solution has been built and managed by UK technologists, Corethree Ltd, based upon its award-winning platform, Core Engine. Corethree Chief Executive, Ashley Murdoch, commented: “We have worked very closely with First UK Bus to produce a highly useable and customer engaging m-ticketing system. It not only provides great flexibility for passengers but also offers powerful insights surrounding usage data which will enable First to learn more about its customers.”