Snapper Hints It’s Making Progress To Win Over NZTA

Wellington-based Snapper card, saying getting into the Auckland market remains its main focus, claims to have support from the transport agency.

In a press release, it says that Snapper is engaging with the board of NZTA “to define the architecture and standards for the proposed National Integrated Ticketing Programme.”

“Auckland remains a key area of focus for Snapper. Snapper has actively campaigned for a fair market in Auckland and has received good support from NZTA, operators and the general public. This is particularly important in a market that will be very competitive in the coming years and is focused on delivering integrated ticketing in time for Rugby World Cup 2011. Snapper continues to execute on its plans and is well positioned for further growth in the coming year. Snapper continues to develop its platform and team for the next stage of growth that will see Snapper introduced across more modes of transport and expand into other regions of New Zealand.”

Snapper, run by Infratil which runs NZBus in Auckland, is continuing to lobby to do integrated ticketing in Auckland and nationally instead of ARTA’s preferred tenderer, Thales.

Its recent lobbying including persuading a Herald columnist to argue for a re-think of the agency’s decision to proceed with ARTA’s preferred tender.

In its release,Snapper boasts that the number of issued Snapper cards have increased from 58,000 to 90,000 since March 31 2009. This compares with 30,000 at September 30 2008. Snapper has processed 6.8 million transactions in the 6 months since March 31 2009. This is an increase of 55% on the preceding 6 months.

It talks of other key metrics: In total, Snapper has processed more than 12 million transactions since market launch in July 2008. And Snapper retailers increased from 105 retailers at March 31 2009 to 180 retailers at September 30 2009.

“Snapper’s system accuracy operates consistently above 99.99%. Snapper’s growth was continued in the six months to 30 September. A broad range of retailers and public transport operators now accept Snapper for payment and ticketing. The retailer network and operator penetration has resulted in strong rates of customer growth since launch. The Snapper customer base shows encouraging signs of increased usage in retail towards the end of the half-year.”