Information technology and innovation

2nd UITP Marketing and IT and Innovation Study Tour
27 UITP members had the chance to discover the marketing and new technology strategies implemented by JR East and Metro Tokyo during a three-day study tour to Tokyo, Japan, on 25-29 November. The presentations, technical visits and workshops resulted in many exchanges between the participants and the local hosts.

One of the most groundbreaking and impressive models showcased is certainly the affiliated businesses or ‘lifestyles businesses’ including real estate business, where stations are developed with the objective of integrating railway and commercial facilities serving as the gateway to the city. These stations also offer other businesses like credit card, IT, on-site sales and media.

High-level quality presentations related to the technical visits enabled the participants to understand the success of the smartcard applications Suica and Pasmo. The group had the privilege to visit two sites which had never been opened to foreigners before: the ‘Test and Use Interoperability Suica/Pasmo’ and the Frontier Service Development Laboratory.

UITP wishes to thank JR East and Tokyo Metro for their professionalism which contributed largely to the success of this event.

CONTACT: Cécile Sadoux