Certification for PDMS Scottish smart ticketing projects

PDMS has received certification from ITSO for our mobile ticketing device which is a key component of our mobile smart ticketing software solution

Official ITSO certification now gives PDMS the green light for a number of pilot smart card projects with customers including Orkney Ferries and the Shetland Islands Council.

What is ITSO?

ITSO is the national specification for smart ticketing and was developed to ensure that public operators throughout Great Britain can develop compatible smart ticketing systems. PDMS is an ITSO registered supplier and has been working on a solution in partnership with Unicard to deliver a smart ticketing solution for its ferry customers in Scotland.

Scottish Enterprise have supported PDMS throughout the certification process with funding to help undertake the work required to achieve certification of the Bluebird device and to enhance its Compass ferry reservation and ticketing system to allow the retail and validation of Smart tickets.

Derek Rae, Senior Account Manager at PDMS, commented:

“Achieving ITSO certification is an important milestone for PDMS’ smart ticketing solutions and we are looking forward to working with our customers to help join up journeys across the transport network in Scotland. The grant assistance and account management support received from Scottish Enterprise has been a big boost in terms of helping to progress this nationally important project.”

Smart ticketing solution for Scotland

Shetland Islands Council now want to progress a Shetland Travel card using the technology for ferry and bus travel. Orkney Ferries are also looking to make their current concessionary smartcard solution ITSO compliant.

With an ITSO solution, Orkney would be able to add their products directly to the NEC/Saltire card instead of issuing their own cards. A single card is much more convenient for the traveller and reduces administration costs for the operator.

PDMS will be progressing pilots with other ferry operators in Scotland and all will be based upon adding products to the NEC/Saltire card.

To find out more about our work with Shetland Islands Council, read our case study