Digital payment adoption in public transport systems

Research in Quito, Ecuador, highlights significant barriers to the adoption of digital payment methods within the city's public transportation system. A study involving 4,588 users of the Trolebús, Ecovía, and feeder route subsystems found that while 96.14% of existing users find electronic payments easy to use, nearly half of the surveyed population (48.76%) remains unaware of these digital alternatives.

Despite a young and highly connected demographic, the transition from cash is hindered by information gaps, mistrust, and established cash-use habits. These behavioral barriers delay technological integration and tariff unification in the region.

In contrast, Argentina's SUBE system has reached its 16th anniversary, managing over 15 million daily transactions across more than 60 localities. The system has evolved from physical cards to an interoperable platform supporting credit, debit, and digital wallets via QR codes, serving as a model for large-scale national implementation.