4. December 2024

MVVswipe Successfully Launched

Ticket Purchase Made Super Simple: Board, Swipe, Done!

In Munich, Germany, the most convenient way to purchase public transport tickets was just successfully launched. The MVVswipe function, a check-in/check-out system (CiCo) developed by MENTZ, even had some prominent first users: Bavarian Transport Minister Christian Bernreiter, Munich Mayor Dieter Reiter, MVV Managing Director Bernd Rosenbusch, MVG CEO Ingo Wortmann, and Ebersberg county commissioner and MVV county spokesman, Robert Niedergesäß, as well as a number of local journalists.

Swipe Right to Start, Swipe Left to End – Like a Dating App

“We are proud of this major step that makes public transport more attractive and lowers the threshold for its use in Upper Bavaria,” said MENTZ CEO Christoph Mentz. “MVVswipe is great for people who do not normally take public transport, people without a monthly or seasonal pass, people who do not have a Deutschlandticket, or tourists. This function allows them to use MVV public transport without having to know the fare system, without having to deal with a ticket machine, and always at a guaranteed best price,” explained Mentz.

After just one week, MVVswipe had already registered more than 20,000 trips. Prior to launch, a pilot phase had been running at MVV for about three years under the title “Swipe + Ride.” This initial phase was used to conduct intensive market research and receive valuable customer feedback. Many suggestions for improvement made their way directly into the development process.

Price Cap as the Key to Success

The MENTZ CiCo system had already proven its value in the German Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia. “The background processes that determine the correct journey and the best price are rather complex. Passengers do not notice any of this, because for them, it is very simple,” said Frank Merkel, Project Manager at MENTZ. Passengers check in to the trip by swiping right and then swipe left to check out at their destination. The best price is calculated automatically. Even if someone takes several journeys a day, they will never pay more than the price of a day pass. 

The MVV app, also developed by MENTZ, reminds passengers to check out as soon as their smartphone detects them walking away from a stop. A next customer, RVV Regensburg, will integrate the swipe function this year. These are just two examples, but the function could be used in other regions and by other customers in the near future, noted Merkel.

Response in the German Press (a selection)