With a new project jointly implemented by “Azerbaijan Railways” CJSC (ADY) and “AzInTelecom” LLC, which are companies of AZCON Holding, the next digital stage has been launched in the direction of applying more convenient, faster and innovative services in passenger transportation.
ADY informed Modern.az about this.
According to the information, from today onwards, “SİMA Pay” – a payment system with face recognition – has been implemented for the first time in the field of public transport in Azerbaijan on railways.
In the initial stage, it is possible to use the payment system with face recognition when passing through the turnstiles at Baku Railway Station, Sumgayit Railway Station and “Koroğlu” stop. In the next stage, this modern service is planned to be provided both at all stations and stops along the Absheron circular route, and in the railway network across the country.
This innovative step allows passengers to pass through turnstiles quickly and more conveniently without the need for any physical card or device, making them feel technological comfort from the first second of their journey. Passengers can benefit from this service by entering the “Pass with Face Recognition” section in the “ADY Mobile” mobile application.
The application of the “Face Pay” experience of the world's leading countries in Azerbaijan through the integration of the “SİMA Pay” digital ecosystem and the virtual card of “ADY Mobile” will further increase the safety of passenger transportation on railways, minimize the risks of biometric payments, and also eliminate concerns such as losing a card or running out of balance.
It should be noted that in recent years, ADY has been ensuring passenger satisfaction not only with new trains and routes, but also with digital solutions that simplify daily life. Especially thanks to the innovations implemented in the Absheron circular railway route over the last three years, the passenger transportation service has entered a completely new stage. There is no longer a need to wait in queues at ticket offices and purchase physical tickets. Passengers make their payments without wasting time via bank cards, NFC and the “ADY Mobile” application.
Statistical results also show that passengers welcome and easily adopt the innovations implemented in recent years in the direction of digitalization of railways. Thus, the number of users of “ADY Mobile”, which was launched in 2023, has already exceeded 400 thousand. Approximately 80 percent of passengers traveling to regions by train purchase their tickets online. At the same time, from 2024, the requirement to present an identity card only in physical form during registration for travel on domestic routes has been removed, and it is sufficient to present identity-confirming information from the “My.gov.az” portal in the form of a QR code. In addition, passengers can connect to the free “Wi-Fi” network on trains for both business activities and efficient leisure time throughout their journey.
