Vix Technology (Vix) is an Australian company that designs, supplies and operates automated fare collection (AFC) systems, intelligent transportation systems (ITS), access, payment and passenger information display systems (PIDS) for the public transit industry.

Vix Technology
Company typePrivate
Industrypublic transport technology, fare collection
Headquarters,
Key people
Productssmart card automated fare collection systems and intelligent transportation systems
Websitevixtechnology.com

The company has designed, supplied and operated systems for cities and operators worldwide, including Hong Kong's Octopus card system,[1] Seattle's ORCA card system, and Stockholm's SL Access[2] system.[3]

History

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In 2009, Vix Technology acquired the assets of the former ERG Group, when ERG restructured and changed its name to Videlli Limited.[4] In 2010, Vix Technology acquired ACIS, a UK-based supplier of ITS and PIDS solutions.[clarification needed][5] In 2011, Vix Technology launched a rebranding of the company, integrating all of its business under one brand "Vix".[6]

Major contracts

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Hong Kong

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ERG developed the components of the Octopus card system for Hong Kong. The system was completed in September 1997 and remains the largest transit smart card project in the world with over 14 million transactions per day.[7]

San Francisco

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In April 1999 the ERG-Motorola alliance was contracted to the largest smart card project in United States to design, build, operate and maintain the Clipper (then called TransLink) fare payment system in the San Francisco Bay Area. The contract encompasses the six largest transit operators, including buses, light, medium and heavy rail carriers, and ferries. Muni and Caltrain began accepting TransLink on all routes starting in September 2008.[8] Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) began accepting it in early 2009, followed by SamTrans and Santa Clara VTA. However, when Motorola withdrew from the contract, the MTC refused to assign it solely to ERG because it was concerned that ERG had insufficient operating capital.[9] On 27 May 2009, the contract was assigned from Motorola and ERG to Cubic Transportation Systems.[10] TransLink was renamed Clipper and officially launched on 16 June 2010 with Cubic as the operational partner.[11]

Stockholm

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In April 2003, ERG signed a contract with Stockholm's public transport authority, Storstockholms Lokaltrafik (SL) to implement a smart card based fare collection system.[12] The contract involved the upgrade of the current rail and metro magnetic ticketing system to contactless smart cards, together with the extension of the system to the bus network, sales outlets, and new ticket vending machines. The contract included the issuing of over one million cards. The system went into public trial from September 2008 and became widely available to the public in 2009.

During 2021 SL started to phase out the system and it was shut down in March 2023.[13]

Singapore

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In 1999, the ERG-Motorola alliance won a contract in Singapore to design and install an integrated smart card ticketing system known as EZ-Link for the Land Transport Authority. On 13 April 2002, the smart card ticketing system went into full service on Singapore's public transport network. At the end of the first week in operation it was processing more than 500,000 transactions per day, a figure that has now risen to more than seven million. EZ-Link is now one of the largest integrated smart card based transit systems in the world with more than 22,000 readers in place across the five transit operators covering bus, rail and light rail.

Cape Town

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Vix was appointed as the AFC technology partner in 2011 for the supply of a fully automated fare collection system for the city's new multimillion-dollar bus rapid transit system. The contract embraces the supply of all software and hardware. The roll-out commenced in October 2011.

Seattle

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In April 2003, ERG signed a contract with the Regional Fare Coordination System (RFCS), a group of seven transit agencies surrounding the Puget Sound, to create and operate the smart card ticketing system known as ORCA (One Regional Card for All). The card serves those in Seattle, Tacoma, Everett, Bremerton, and the surrounding areas. In April 2009, the ORCA card began processing fares for buses, light rail, heavy rail, ferries, and vanpool services. In addition to processing fares for adults, youths, and seniors, the contract includes issuing smart cards, clearinghouse services, business and institutional accounts, and operations and maintenance. Even though the system is now in the operations and maintenance phase, the RFCS continues to expand the system. Rapid Ride was added in 2009 and Seattle Monorail was added in 2019.[14] In 2018, Vix lost the contract for the next generation ORCA card system to competitor INIT.[15]

Other

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Vix (ERG) has also designed, developed, and operated solutions[buzzword] in the following locations:[citation needed]

Awards

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  • 2017 UK National Transport Awards: Transport Supplier of the Year - Joint Winner[20]
  • 2018 Transport Ticketing Global: Best Smart Ticketing Programme Award - Winner[21]
  • 2021 Australian Good Design Awards: Product Design - Commercial and Industry category - Gold Accolade[22]
  • 2021 INCITE Awards: Dr Mal Bryce Tech Company of the Year - Winner[23]
  • 2021 HRD Australian HR Awards: Best Remote Work Strategy - Winner[24]

References

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  1. ^ "Australian Technology Puts Hong Kong In The Picture". Australian Consulate-General, Hong Kong, China. 17 February 2007. Retrieved 4 June 2007.
  2. ^ "Public transportation in Stockholm-About.com". About.com. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
  3. ^ "ERG Selected for Stockholm Transit Fare Collection Project". SecureIDNews. 1 April 2003. Retrieved 4 June 2007.
  4. ^ "Videlli Company History"
  5. ^ "Vix Acquires ACIS"
  6. ^ "Vix Launch New Brand and Complete Mobility Solution". Vixtechnology.com. Vix Technology. 3 October 2011. Archived from the original on 1 February 2012. Retrieved 14 November 2011.
  7. ^ "Australian Minister for Trade, Mark Vaile 29 September 2000 Export Champions and Heroes Business Club Australia, Darling Harbour". Speech. Retrieved 17 September 2008.
  8. ^ "Caltrain and Muni Revenue Ready". Vix ERG. Retrieved 18 February 2010.
  9. ^ Memorandum regarding assignment of contract from Motorola and ERG to Cubic
  10. ^ Memorandum regarding assignment of contract from Motorola and ERG to Cubic: Commission Approval
  11. ^ "Cubic Supports Metropolitan Transportation Commission in Launching ClipperSM Card for San Francisco Bay Area". Archived from the original on 5 March 2012. Retrieved 30 May 2011.
  12. ^ "ERG Selected for Stockholm Transit Fare Collection Project". SecureIDNews. 1 April 2003. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
  13. ^ "Fares & tickets | SL". sl.se. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
  14. ^ "Seattle Monorail now accepts ORCA cards | Sound Transit".
  15. ^ "Systems Integrator for next generation ORCA" (PDF).
  16. ^ "ERG wins Gothenberg [sic] contract.(Gothenberg, Sweden, smart card contract)(Brief Article)". 1 July 2001. Archived from the original on 11 November 2013. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
  17. ^ Bookmark +, Metro Magazine Staff •. "Vix Technology to equip Edmonton transit systems with 'smart' ticketing". www.metro-magazine.com. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  18. ^ "Rome Setting The Pace For Contactless Smart Card Technology". Odyssey Media Group. 19 December 2000. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
  19. ^ "Smart card system will help keep Romans moving". Logistics Online. 20 December 2000. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
  20. ^ "Excellence In Transport Recognised At National Transport Awards 2017". Facts Magazine. 16 October 2017. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  21. ^ "VIX TECHNOLOGY WINS BEST SMART TICKETING PROGRAMME AWARD AT TT GLOBAL 2018". Vix Technology. 23 January 2018. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  22. ^ "'VIX TECHNOLOGY ASSURE TICKETING SYSTEM' RECOGNIZED IN AUSTRALIA'S INTERNATIONAL GOOD DESIGN AWARDS FOR DESIGN EXCELLENCE". Vix Technology. 13 October 2021. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  23. ^ Vanessie, Petra (24 July 2021). "WA Tech Innovators Celebrated and Acknowledged at 30th INCITE Awards". The Incite Awards. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  24. ^ "AUSTRALIAN HR AWARDS 2021 WINNERS: Individual Awards". Australian HR Awards. Retrieved 24 November 2021.