Prasarana has recently debuted a new mobile application for its MyRapid public transport service, developed in collaboration with local IT company CM Tech. Known as myrapidTap, the app allows its users to use cashless payment for the use of the company’s services including Rapid Transit buses, LRT, and so on.
The group’s chairman Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman said during the launching ceremony that myrapidTap is intended to be an alternative payment method for users who rely on their public transport services. “The plan to introduce the myrapidTap application is another ongoing initiative from Prasarana and its subsidiaries to further facilitate the public in using public transport (provided by the company) through technological advances, especially promoting a cashless payment system,” he added.
Tajuddin noted that the app is also planned to be further expanded and include a travel planning facility for city dwellers to plan their travel accordingly. Meanwhile, CM Tech CEO Herbert Poh commented that the myrapidTap application could be a catalyst for economic development and business activities, as well as leveraging small and medium enterprises along the Rapid KL transport lines.
Basically, the new myrapidTap application enables you to pay for your public transport fares wirelessly by scanning a QR code. However, the only MyRapid service that supports this approach at this time are MRT feeder buses, and it is not known when this would be implemented to its other transportation modes such as its train and intercity bus services.
Being a cashless payment option for MyRapid users, myrapidTap also functions as yet another e-Wallet mobile application. With no ability of allowing users to redirect payments to third party cashless payment apps such as Boost or GrabPay, this means that they are required to top up the app’s own e-Wallet amount for the services.
It is clear that both Prasarana and CM Tech are planning to take the app an extra mile further by introducing eCommerce features such as in-app online shopping. This is evident of myrapidTap’s front page, which is abundant of third party advertisements and links. It is quite likely that Prasarana may also take advantage of the app’s e-Wallet and cashless payment capabilities to compete with other services such as Boost, GrabPay and even Touch ‘n Go E-wallet in the near future.
In the current version that we have downloaded, it appears that the app’s Journey Planner feature has been removed for the time being. Unsurprising, considering that the feature itself isn’t fully functional, as pointed out by Soyacincau.
Overall, most would agree that both Prasarana and CM Tech may have jumped the gun a bit too early with this app’s release, seeing how limited it currently is. Only time will tell if myrapidTap would soon end up as another “necessary” E-wallet app to have in a user’s smartphone. For those interested, the app is available now on both Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
(Source: myrapidTap / The Edge)
