UbiRider Secures PCI DSS Certification, Strengthening Open-Loop Payment Security and Accelerating AI Innovation in Transit
UbiRider, the company behind the all-in-one UbiRider Platform that unifies transportation management, fare collection, open payments, passenger information systems, and real-time analytics, has announced a major security milestone: the successful attainment of Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) certification.
This achievement formally validates UbiRider’s commitment to securing bank card and mobile wallet transactions—commonly known as open-loop payments—and positions the platform to introduce a new generation of intelligent fare collection tools, deeper operational insights, and AI-powered services across transit networks.
More than just a compliance checkbox, PCI certification accelerates UbiRider’s vision for frictionless mobility. It enables the company to enrich its core platform, empower transit operators with sophisticated data capabilities, and deliver safer, simpler, and more personalized payment experiences for riders.
Why PCI DSS Matters for Modern Transit Systems
The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard, or PCI DSS, sets the global rulebook for how organizations must protect sensitive cardholder data. Developed by leading payment brands—including Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, and JCB—the standard establishes strict controls to prevent the loss, theft, or misuse of payment information.
Any business that transmits, processes, or stores card data must comply with PCI DSS to ensure minimal risk around payment fraud or data breaches. In the fast-evolving mobility sector, this requirement is increasingly essential.
The Shift Toward Open-Loop Payments
Transit operators worldwide are steadily moving away from legacy fare systems that rely on paper tickets, travel cards, or proprietary smartcards. Riders prefer to simply tap their contactless bank card or mobile wallet—using everyday payment tools they already carry.
However, adopting open-loop payments demands strict adherence to PCI DSS. Without it, transit operators and technology providers risk exposing passengers to security vulnerabilities and operators to significant regulatory liabilities.
With PCI DSS certification now secured, UbiRider guarantees that every payment processed through its platform meets the highest global security benchmarks. Every tap—whether from a physical card, smartphone, or wearable—is handled in a fully protected, compliant environment.
Innovation Enabled by Security
Beyond compliance, PCI DSS unlocks the potential for UbiRider to build more advanced, data-driven features. With secure access to clean, structured payment data, transit agencies can:
- Lower fare collection and payment processing costs
- Reduce fraud and reconciliation complexity
- Adopt standardized open-loop systems across multiple modes
- Improve analytics, planning, and financial controls
- Deliver more seamless, consistent experiences to passengers
Riders benefit equally, gaining speed, convenience, and the freedom to pay with the devices they already trust.
Leadership Perspective: A New Era of Secure, Seamless Transit
“Fare collection is central to public transport, but systems have traditionally focused only on processing and protecting transactions, often creating friction for riders,” said Paulo Ferreira dos Santos, CEO of UbiRider.
“At UbiRider, we aim to deliver value for both operators and riders. With PCI certification, we will be able to implement more powerful features that both secure transactions and deliver trusted, seamless digital experiences to passengers.”
Ferreira dos Santos emphasizes that PCI DSS elevates the platform’s ability to innovate while ensuring that every enhancement meets the strictest standards for data protection.
A Differentiator in the Transit Payments Landscape
The majority of open-loop payment systems used in public transport rely on a patchwork of specialized vendors: separate payment gateways, acquirers, fare engines, account-based ticketing modules, and hardware security components. These systems often run partially offline, requiring expensive proprietary terminals and large-scale infrastructure to guarantee the integrity of transactions.
UbiRider takes a fundamentally different approach.
A Unified Platform from Tap to Settlement
With its newly earned PCI certification, UbiRider is now able to consolidate many of these previously fragmented components into one streamlined platform. The result is a faster, more efficient, and more secure payment workflow.
Combined with Tap-on-Phone technology—which allows standard Android devices to securely accept contactless payments in real time—the UbiRider Platform emerges as a cloud-native, fully integrated alternative to traditional fare systems.
More Than Fare Collection
While many providers stop at ticketing and payments, UbiRider’s ecosystem extends across the entire operational stack. The platform includes:
- Real-time fleet and service management
- Passenger engagement and communication tools
- Financial dashboards and settlement reporting
- Data analytics for operational optimization
- Rule-based engine for fares, capping, and incentives
This holistic scope gives operators greater control over their data, simplifies operations, and reduces long-term system costs. The platform’s flexibility also supports deployments across diverse geographies, regulatory frameworks, and payment infrastructures.
Making Big Operator Technology Accessible to Fleets of Any Size
One of UbiRider’s defining strengths is its commitment to democratizing advanced digital tools for operators who traditionally lacked access to them.
Historically, only large metropolitan transit agencies could afford modern open-loop systems. Smaller or mid-sized fleets were often stuck with outdated or fragmented solutions due to cost barriers or technical complexity.
SaaS-Based, Scalable, and Cost-Effective
Offered through a software-as-a-service (SaaS) model, the UbiRider Platform eliminates heavy upfront investments and reduces maintenance burdens. This makes cutting-edge capabilities financially viable for:
- Regional bus agencies
- Small public operators
- Private shuttle and commuter services
- School transport providers
- Rural mobility programs
With PCI DSS certification now strengthening its payment infrastructure, UbiRider ensures that even the smallest fleets can deploy the same advanced technology stack trusted by major networks.
UbiRider is quickly emerging as the go-to specialist for small and mid-sized operators seeking affordable digital transformation without compromising on quality or security.
Laying the Foundation for Agentic AI: The Future of Transit Management
Perhaps the most transformative aspect of UbiRider’s PCI certification is the foundation it establishes for the company’s next strategic frontier: agentic AI.
Agentic AI refers to intelligent software agents capable of independently analyzing data, identifying anomalies, making recommendations, and automating actions across operational workflows.
To enable this next generation of AI-driven transit management, UbiRider restructured its cloud and data architecture to meet PCI DSS requirements—ensuring that all sensitive information is not only secure but also structured for high-quality AI use.
Examples of Agentic AI UbiRider Plans to Deploy
With secure, compliant data pipelines, UbiRider can begin introducing AI agents that:
- Automate payment reconciliation, dramatically reducing back-office workloads
- Predict and identify hardware faults—such as malfunctioning terminals—before they disrupt service
- Provide personalized rider dashboards featuring trip histories, carbon footprint tracking, and contextual promotions
- Enable unified passenger accounts across multiple cities, transport modes, and payment methods
- Recommend service adjustments based on patterns in fare data and ridership behavior
These capabilities promise to reshape how operators manage services and how riders interact with public transport.
“Artificial intelligence can only deliver value if it’s fueled by clean, reliable data,” Ferreira dos Santos noted. “PCI certification ensures that our platform not only protects data but also organizes it in a way that unlocks powerful AI applications. It’s a strategic step toward smarter, more efficient, and more human transit systems.”
A Milestone That Marks the Beginning of What’s Next
By earning PCI DSS certification, UbiRider has taken a pivotal step toward redefining the future of transit payments and mobility management. The certification reinforces the company’s commitment to security, strengthens its competitive edge, and accelerates its roadmap for AI-driven innovation.
With secure open-loop payments, unified digital infrastructure, and forthcoming agentic AI capabilities, UbiRider is poised to help transit operators of all sizes modernize their systems, improve operational resilience, and deliver the seamless rider experience that today’s passengers expect.
In an industry increasingly shaped by digital transformation, UbiRider’s achievement is not just a compliance win—it is a foundation for the next era of connected, intelligent, and accessible mobility.
About UbiRider
UbiRider was founded with the mission to make modern mobility solutions simple, elegant, and accessible to all operators—whether they run a single bus or a fleet of thousands. The UbiRider Platform is a complete, modular Mobility-as-a-Service solution that empowers small and mid-size operators to offer the same cutting-edge digital experiences as large transit networks, but at a fraction of the cost. With mobile and web components designed for real-time operations, account-based ticketing, and seamless tap-and-go payments, UbiRider gives operators the tools to improve efficiency, increase profitability, and deliver rider-friendly services. The platform is already deployed in cities and regions of all sizes, proving that innovation in transit is not reserved for big metropolitan systems. UbiRider is based in Porto, Portugal, and backed by 1520 Innovation Fund (an investment vehicle from CTT and managed by Iberis Capital), Cedrus R&D III (managed by Cedrus Capital), Grupo Barraqueiro, and angel investors. The company is a strategic partner of Mastercard, Deloitte, PayShop, and Viva.com.
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