Stay focus on Smart Cities
Hany Fam: Transportation is a major component of Mastercard’s global cities initiatives.
Hany Fam, Enterprise Partnerships, Mastercard, gives key observations/learnings as a member of India’s Smart Cities plans.
The major concern for India is tackling the implications of urbanization, with people moving from countryside to cities in unprecedented numbers. This is a trend that has global impact and is not specific to developing economies. So now, more than ever, there is a need to come up with technology that can be applied to the challenges cities face in order to make cities smarter, enabling business growth and quality of life, he says.
What is also evident is that a collaborative approach is needed with regards to shared technology, expertise and learning in order to recognize the potential in future cities and deliver truly impactful transformation. The Indian government has ambitious plans and recently announced 20 priority cities that will be the focus for the first phase of its smart city investment. By taking into account the experiences citizens have with the city they live in, and applying technology to transform these interactions, we can help to develop cities that are dynamic, liveable and sustainable.
Why the Indian government should stay focused on to meet their 100 Smart City goal?
India is working towards leveraging the smart city experience and technology available across the globe to drive the transformation it needs. With its ambitious plan, it is more crucial than ever for India to stay realistic and focused. Smart city planning and development, as I mentioned earlier, needs a collaborative approach of shared technology, expertise, learning and governance, and that is what India needs to keep focused on to meet their 100 Smart City goal.
It is also important not to overlook the current problems plaguing society while they ambitiously work on developing India’s future. In order to unlock cities’ full potential, they need to remain focused on simultaneously developing basic services and infrastructure. It seems like an either/or situation to many, however the provision of basic necessities actually lies at the foundation of building a smart city. India needs to keep its smart city vision in mind while it addresses issues such as sanitation and transport, in order to achieve its 100 Smart City goal. It needs time, patience and work, but with a solid plan, governance and focus, India is more than capable of achieving it.
How we need to rectify the misconception that every city has its unique problems?
Every region of the world, each specific city and therefore its citizens are infinitely different. This means there is no perfect, one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to planning for smart cities. However, there are some general commonalities which can be shared and learned. In an era of rapid globalization and urbanization, the geographical lines between cities – and therefore the differences – are becoming blurred. We need to start by looking at the broader issues and tackling the root causes, while recognizing the need to devise solutions using a global perspective. To give you an example, Mastercard has turned contactless mobile ticketing into a broader mobile payments experience that not only appeals to one specific city’s situations or problems. Our hope is that cities are moving towards a shared vision of building better, smarter cities, and it is paramount that we start collaborating and looking at the larger picture in order to achieve that.
What big data and open-loop systems have to offer cities?
Smart cities and big data are closely related to each other, in that smart cities depend on the collection of enabling technologies facilitated by big data. Big data applications, therefore, significantly contribute to the development of various aspects of a smart city. Not only can big data help provide better user experiences and services, it also helps to enhance business performance. From improved healthcare through better diagnosis, treatment tools, and healthcare records management, to more efficient transportation systems with optimized routes and schedules, big data can make cities more efficient, safer and sustainable.
Transportation is a major component of Mastercard’s global cities initiatives. Open-loop systems, such as the one developed by Mastercard for Transport for London, play a critical role in ensuring better flow of residents and visitors by introducing the option of “pay-as-you-go”, while reducing cost for the transit agency. Essentially, open-loop payments help speed people on their way. Standing in queues is not efficient, nor is it smart. Open-loop transit systems are just one of the aspects that enable the ‘smart’ in smart cities.
Where Mastercard fits into making cities smarter?
Mastercard is committed to being a driving force within the private sector to spearhead the smart cities vision. We are collaborating with governments, NGOs and other leaders in urban innovation to deliver values to cities in three main ways: make them more efficient and welcoming by embedding digital payments into their DNA; make them safer and more inclusive by reducing the reliance on cash; and make them more sustainable and well-positioned for future growth by unlocking the power of data that I mentioned previously.
We are already working with 50 cities from all over the globe. We have successfully implemented open-loop transit payments in a number of global cities – including in London where we’ve introduced contactless payments on all Underground and bus lines in partnership with Transport for London.
In September last year, we launched the Urbanomics Mobility Project in partnership with Cubic Transportation Systems, a new data analysis platform to fuel smarter, more inclusive cities. The platform targets transit, urban planning and public service agencies, land-use authorities, city and regional governments, real estate developers, merchants and many other commercial businesses involved in site selection and development.
In time, Mastercard aims to make cities around the world smarter, more efficient and more sustainable for residents and visitors alike. From public transportation ticketing to parking, tolls and sporting events, Mastercard’s goal is to play an integral role in advancing smart cities as not an end but a means to improve quality of life. fii-news.com
