Digital ticketing developer ACT (Applied Card Technologies) has been acquired by Japanese IT giant Fujitsu in a multi-million pound deal that paves the way for the UK’s first smartphone-based rail ticket issuing system.
ACT, based at Kington Langley, near Chippenham, designs, builds and manages smart transaction systems for retail, tourism, public sector and transport clients worldwide.
It said becoming part of Fujitsu would give it extra resources and allow it to accelerate its next generation product development. 
The firm, which also has offices in Cardiff and Manchester, was launched in 2002 to support retail and tourism managers in rewarding their customers and designed and developed smart card transaction systems and services so that companies could take control of their customer management and relations.
Two years later it joined a group set up by the UK Department for Transport to look into standards for smart ticketing across all modes of transport including bus, rail, ferry and tolls – going on to develop innovative products in the transport sector.
Fujitsu said its acquisition of ACT from parent group Smart Transactions Group would support it as it further expands its presence in the transport sector.
ACT’s technology will enable Fujitsu to provide cloud-based ticketing systems to transport operators, allowing them to offer passengers a fast, stress-free, convenient service which could spell the end of ticket office queues and paper tickets.
Fujitsu recently announced it is to work with transport company Arriva on smartphone-based rail ticketing.
ACT’s technology will also help Fujitsu expand its position in areas such as citizen-centric smart accounts, tourism city cards and loyalty reward programmes alongside commercial transport ticketing.
Fujitsu UK & Ireland CEO Regina Moran said: “We live in an increasingly digital-first world with consumers using everything from cloud to smartwatches, to go about their daily lives. Today, for the majority of us, travel is a necessity in day-to-day life.”
She said a Fujitsu study showed only 39% of the public was satisfied with digital services the transport industry offers.
“This needs to change. As a technology provider to transport operators, we see it as our responsibility to facilitate the sector’s move to digital. ACT is a proven expert in the digital ticketing space and will be a vitally important part of the Fujitsu business.”
ACT chief executive Gary Watts said: “ACT has an excellent track record of delivering innovative ticketing systems and services that are valued by our diverse range of customers.
“In recent years, we have developed a range of new services and seen a series of new contract wins. Fujitsu’s investment in ACT provides the foundations for further expansion and we look forward to continuing to service our customers as part of Fujitsu, a company which shares our customer-centric ethos and vision for a connected society.
“We are excited to be able to combine our next generation ticketing and payments platform with Fujitsu’s global innovation portfolio and look forward to taking the business smoothly to the next level of scale.”
Surrey-based Smart Transactions Group was advised by Bristol law firm TLT. Financial details of the acquisition have not been disclosed.
