Canada, Masabi provides Software-as-a-Service ticketing in Montreal

Montreal‘s Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain (ARTM), in Canada, has awarded a contract to ticketing specialist Masabi for the development and implementation of a new fare collection solution under the Software-as-a-Service method.

The initiative is part of the Concerto project, a major transformation initiative aimed at modernizing the public transit customer experience in the Montreal metropolitan region. To date, the project remains within the approved budget envelope of $146 million, including contingency funds. The new fare collection solution will replace the OPUS system which, although reaching the end of its updating capacity, has been meeting user needs for 20 years.

Masabi provides Software-as-a-Service in Montreal

Concerto represents a complete and gradual overhaul of the entire fare collection system in the metropolitan region. Several deliverables are already available or in deployment. Notably, since 2024, OPUS users have been able to reload their OPUS card via the Chrono app, with nearly one in two purchases now made using this feature. Additionally, the ARTM is currently conducting initial testing phases for the launch of virtual fares on smartphones. As part of the next phase, credit and debit card payments are being introduced in stages, allowing customers to pay directly with their bank cards and mobile devices, Masabi states in a press note.

The project involves updating more than 12,000 pieces of equipment across five territories and engages several key partners: the Société de transport de Montréal (STM), the Réseau de transport de Longueuil (RTL), the Société de transport de Laval (STL), exo, and the City of Montreal.

Masabi Software-as-a-Service cloud-native platform, called Justride, supports a variety of payment methods, including contactless bank cards, smartphones, smart cards, and mobile tickets and has already been adopted by over 200 agencies worldwide – across Canada, the USA, UK, Europe, and Australia. To support the delivery of a modern, integrated fare system for Greater Montreal, Masabi is working with global engineering consultancy WSP.

“Concerto is much more than just a tech project — it’s a deep transformation of the customer experience in public transit. It’s a top priority for the ARTM, and we’re moving forward methodically, step by step, delivering tangible results — like mobile OPUS card reload feature, already available. Let’s be clear: the project is well managed, with strong governance, regular oversight, and thorough testing before each rollout,” said Benoit Gendron, GM of the ARTM. “We deeply believe in Concerto because it reflects our commitment to making public transit even more efficient and attractive.”

“Today’s announcement marks a milestone in the adoption of modern software approaches to deliver fare payment systems to the industry. By opting for Software as a Service over the cumbersome and inflexible, legacy build and maintain approach, ARTM will deliver continuous and regular innovation, at a much lower cost,” said Brian Zanghi, CEO of Masabi. “We are delighted to welcome ARTM to our customer family, which includes major cities around the world, and look forward to delivering a fare collection system that will deliver cutting-edge fare payment to delight riders at a price that makes sense.”