Indian Railways started mobile-based ticketing so passengers can buy tickets without queuing up.

That, however is not the only problem to solve. We could do lots more …

Similar isn’t same

Location from cell towersNo dependence on smartphones or data network

1

Automatic checking Make it hassle free for passengers and staff alike

2

infrastructureTechnology for achieving the lowest cost

3

A fresh look at the design

Sunil Bajpai, Divisional Railway Manager, Trivandrum, July 2015

1. Non-transferable2. Single use3. Receipt for

payment

1. Non-transferable2. Single use3. Receipt for

payment

Must be difficult to• fake, • duplicate, or • reuse

Burden of issuing tickets1. Booking

window/ATVM2. Manpower3. Central

infrastructure4. Network5. Cash handling

Must be difficult to• fake, • duplicate, or • reuse

1. Booking window/ATVM

2. Manpower3. Central

infrastructure4. Network5. Cash handling

Easiest problem, already solved

Wallet on smartcard or cellphone

Options for everyone

A ticket in the hand of the passenger is his

The ticket validates his story at the station or train, where challenged

A ticket in the database linked to his mobile is hisThere needn’t be a physical Point of Sale

Eliminates Point of Sale terminal

Ticket must remain difficult to• fake, • duplicate, or • reuse

1. Booking window/ATVM

2. Manpower3. Central

infrastructure4. Network5. Cash handling

Ticketing app creates the ticket in the database

Passenger activates the ticket at starting station

Can a passenger without a smartphone buy such tickets?

Smart! Smarter!!

Ticket from Churchgate to Bandra please

Ticket from Churchgate to Bandra please

• To a new user:• One 2nd class ticket from

Churchgate to Bandra costs Rs 10.

• You must call again from Churchgate to start your journey—within an hour from now.

• Please say “yes” to issue ticket.

• To an advanced user:• Ticket issued. Thank you.

Buy in 14 Indian languagesAnd some international ones!

Are they consistent with the passenger’s story?

• Location• Time

Location from cell tower

• Always available, unlike GPS• In bad weather• With poor data connectivity

• Does not need a smartphone! • Can be done on server side, rather than on the

phone• Tested in Mumbai Division of WR with encouraging

results

The App periodically checks the ticket and displays validation status

Scan

For integritycheck of app

Touch

Full record of journey:start, checks en route, and exitTicket always checked against the databasePassenger’s location is part of the record of check

What if the phone dies during journey!?

TTE punches your phone number into his handset

Or, scans

Fetches your ticket and confirms your ID through voice-biometrics!

Fraud prevention

• location from cell tower or GPS or Wi-Fi network or i-beacons or thousands of NFC tags

• Start • En route • Exit

• Random 5 minute delay in activation to prevent purchase upon spotting TTE

• Location prior to activation

• Random challenge: HOTP in non-ticketed area of the starting station

What remains of the burden?

Must be difficult to• fake, • duplicate, or • reuse

1. Booking window/ATVM

2. Manpower3. Central

infrastructure4. Network5. Cash handling

Both support unrecorded transactions and solve the problem of double spending the same way

Recorded transactions prevent double spend without a physical exchange of token, but have required a Central Authority

• No central authority or infrastructure

• Trustless system (cryptographic security)

• Database is a public ledger (blockchains)

• Transactions validated by nodes on the network

Robust, low cost design!

blockchain, […], "should be considered as an invention like the steam or combustion engine," that has the potential to transform the world of finance and beyond.

A crypto-ticket, like crypto-currency could use the same revolutionary invention

Use the blockchain, not bitcoins

Proposed solution

• More secure• Infrastructure

• Mostly public• Cheapest cost

• Few points of failure

1. Booking window/ATVM

2. Manpower3. Central

infrastructure4. Network5. Cash handling

Savings, fraud resistance, and lowest cost infrastructure is okay.

But can I make money?

• Full records for unprecedented data analytics• Introduce new ticket types, modify price, etc.

• Value added services, e.g.• 25% off at a restaurant next to the station.

Please say “yes” to reserve your table now.• Cabs? Movies off the Wi-Fi? Parking? Platform ticket?

• Real-time information, e.g. how full is the train?• Next train to Bandra is less crowded. Would arrive in 5

minutes.

Uber, the world’s largest taxi company, owns no vehicles. Facebook, the world’s most popular media owner, creates no content. Alibaba, the most valuable retailer, has no inventory. And Airbnb, the world’s largest accommodation provider, owns no real estate. Something interesting is happening.

 

The Battle Is For The Customer Interfacehttp://tcrn.ch/1DI138A  by @tomfgoodwin

TechCrunch4:30 AM - 4 Mar 2015

Questions or comments?@sunilbajpai on Twitter