Not long ago, the idea of a smart city seemed futuristic. Wifi-enabled kiosks on New York City streets; a computer that could automatically detect maintenance needs for city roads, plumbing or sewage systems; or a sensor network that helps city-dwellers find elusive parking spaces would have all sounded like the creations of Hollywood.
Now, these and other technologies are transforming life for residents around the globe. As more governments embrace emerging technology and integrate sensors, biometrics, and an ever-growing network of connected devices into their municipalities, smart cities will become more ubiquitous.
However, smart cities are more than public places filled with smart devices. To continue progress in the development of smart cities, city leaders should connect those devices into a cohesive network that improves the lives of its residents.
An example of resident life that may transform is the simplification in the way people pay for goods and services like transit, libraries or government benefits. And making a more seamless payment experience cannot be separated from the idea of making transactions more secure, whether it be:
- Government-to-person (G2P)
- Person-to-government (P2G)
- Government-to-business (G2B)
- Business-to-government (B2G)
- Business-to-person (B2P)
- Person-to-business (P2B)
In such use cases, the underlying infrastructure that can make payments more seamless and more secure throughout smart cities is EMV®-enabled technology. Specifically, technology like Discover® D-Payment Application Specification (D-PAS) Connect—the latest evolution of the D-PAS represents the type of EMV-compliant, smart card payment solution for contact, contactless and digital payments that could be integral to smart city development.
Below, we look at three ways that D-PAS Connect (and EMV technology) can play a role in building smarter cities.
(1) City Transit: By implementing EMV-enabled contactless payments, city transit systems are able to deliver more seamless digital ticketing and receipt experience with the help of D-PAS Connect. Riders could use their contactless cards or digital wallets at points of entry to pay for single-ride fares or to store transit tickets that are paid in advance—meanwhile the fares are calculated on the backend, including discounted ticket fares, without the rider having to take any action.
(2) Library Cards: D-PAS Connect payment devices could also serve as a city public library patron’s library card. As such, the city library could validate their patron’s identity and, through data storage, could track checked out items, patron privileges and access, and associated fees (e.g., for late returns on a book).
(3) Government Benefits: In addition to serving as a transit card and/or library card, D-PAS Connect could unlock the potential to add government benefits to mobile wallets, contactless cards and wearables. Though each use case would vary by government and local laws/regulations and programs, D-PAS Connect technology could track and manage government benefits like food stamps, drug prescriptions, and free city transit. D-PAS Connect would be the means for authenticating and validating a recipient’s identity.
Payments of the Future
No doubt, the concept of smart cities is still up and coming. However, as governments look to find efficiencies to improve the lives of their constituents, EMV payment technology like D-PAS Connect could be essential to their strategies.
For more information on the payment technology behind smart city evolutions, contact our D-PAS Connect experts.
