In February 2026, the Municipality of Ungheni entrusted Modeshift with an ambitious goal – to transform a traditional paper-based transit system operating 16 buses into a fully digital public transport network. Exactly three weeks later, the system was live.
Every validator had been installed, account-based ticketing was operational, the mobile application was available to riders, CAD/AVL was running, and digital operational tools were fully deployed. More importantly, passengers immediately embraced the new experience, with system adoption rapidly approaching 100%.
The project established Moldova’s first digital public transit system. Then, only five months later, Modeshift introduced another national first – Moldova’s first contactless EMV transit payments, enabling riders to pay with bank cards, smartphones, and wearables. The response was immediate, with EMV accounting for nearly half of all ticket sales on day one.
Before Modeshift entered the Moldovan market, public transport systems across the country operated using traditional paper-based fare collection and manual processes.
Ungheni wanted to become the first city in Moldova to adopt a fully digital transit ecosystem, providing:
Account-based ticketing (ABT)
Mobile ticketing
Real-time passenger information
Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL)
Digital inspection tools
Operations management software
Modern validator hardware
A foundation for future contactless bank card payments
The challenge was ambitious – deploy an entirely new digital transit ecosystem quickly, reliably, and with immediate rider adoption.
A National First
The launch of the Modeshift platform in Ungheni established several national milestones:
✓ Moldova’s first digital public transit system
✓ Moldova’s first account-based ticketing system
✓ Moldova’s first transit mobile ticketing platform
✓ Moldova’s first integrated AVL and digital transit operations platform
✓ Moldova’s first contactless EMV transit payments
The implementation of the E-ticketing system in Ungheni’s public transport has brought greater transparency and order to trip management. We now have a clearer and more accurate record of passenger flow and a better understanding of how public transport is being used. For us, this system means real data, better control, and decisions based on concrete information. And for passengers, it means a modern, simple, and accessible service.
Igor Casian, General Manager of S.R.L. Servicii Comunale Ungheni
The Solution
Modeshift deployed a complete end-to-end transit platform, including:
Passenger Services
Mobile ticketing
Account-based ticketing (ABT)
Smart fare products
Digital subscriptions
Rider mobile application
Operations
Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL)
Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD)
Management portal
Inspector application
Reporting and analytics
Hardware
Vehicle validators
Driver equipment
Fleet connectivity infrastructure
Deployment in Three Weeks
The implementation timeline demonstrated what is possible when a city and technology provider work closely together.
Within three weeks of contract signing, the system was fully operational, and passengers were already using it.
“I can’t think of another company that could have pulled this off. Huge credit to our teams in Romania and Bulgaria.”
Pavel Iliev, CTO of Modeshift
“Three weeks doesn’t leave room for anything but focus. Every validator installed, every driver trained, every route tested – day by day, the team in Ungheni made it happen. Watching the first riders tap their cards on day one made every long night worth it.”
Claudiu Butoi, Project Manager
Immediate Rider Adoption
One of the key factors behind the project’s success was the collaborative approach taken with the Municipality of Ungheni.
Modeshift worked closely with the city to design fare products and discount structures that were simple, intuitive, and easy for riders to adopt.
The results were immediate:
Riders began using the digital system from day one.
Digital tickets and subscriptions quickly became part of everyday travel.
The city successfully transitioned from paper-based operations to a modern account-based ecosystem.
Five Months Later: Moldova’s First EMV Transit Payments
Just five months after launch, Modeshift introduced another milestone – the first contactless EMV transit paymentsin Moldova.
The new functionality allows riders to pay using:
Contactless bank cards
Smartphones linked to bank cards
Smart watches and wearables
To make this possible, Modeshift developed a direct integration with MICB Bank, enabling secure and reliable payment processing.
Day One Results
The adoption of contactless payments exceeded expectations immediately.
EMV sales on the first day of operation:
The strongest validation of the EMV rollout wasn’t the technology itself – it was rider behavior. On the very first day, contactless payments accounted for approximately half of all fare sales, immediately becoming the most popular way to pay for transit in Ungheni.
On the very first day:
EMV represented nearly 50% of all ticket sales – nearly 1 in every 2 tickets purchased on launch day was paid with EMV
Adoption was immediate
Transaction success rates approached 100%
EMV became the single largest fare product immediately after launch. Today, contactless bank payments continue to dominate fare purchases in Ungheni.
Why It Worked
Several factors contributed to the success of the project:
Proven deployment methodology
Modeshift leveraged experience gained from numerous deployments in small and medium-sized cities.
Close partnership
Ungheni trusted Modeshift’s recommendations on fare structures, adoption strategies, and rollout planning.
Flexible account-based platform
The system enabled rapid deployment while remaining scalable as the network expanded.
Local integration capabilities
Modeshift’s ability to directly integrate with local banking infrastructure accelerated EMV deployment significantly.
Looking Ahead
The Ungheni project demonstrates that digital transit transformation does not need to start in major metropolitan areas.
In fact, Moldova’s transition from paper tickets to digital public transportation began in a small city with just 16 buses.
“Ungheni proves that scale isn’t a prerequisite for leadership – a city with 16 buses became the country’s digital transit pioneer. This is exactly the kind of project that defines what Modeshift Romania is capable of.”
Alexandru Irimia, CEO, Modeshift Romania
Three weeks were enough to launch the country’s first digital transit system. Five months later, that same system became the first in Moldova to accept contactless bank card payments.
For Modeshift, Ungheni is proof that when technology, operational expertise, and local partnership align, even small cities can become national pioneers.
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