Global payments provider Checkout.com has forged a strategic alliance with Freenow by Lyft, Europe’s taxi and ride-sharing application. This collaboration aims to deliver seamless, reliable payment solutions for users traveling across the continent, covering 9 key markets: Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Spain, Poland, Greece, Austria, and Ireland.
With Freenow said to be serving more than 180 cities and integrating diverse transport modes such as taxis, private hire vehicles, e-scooters, e-bikes, e-mopeds, carsharing, and public transit into one convenient platform, the partnership underscores a commitment to modernizing urban mobility through efficient financial infrastructure.
At the core of this initiative is Checkout.com’s role in handling acquiring services throughout Freenow’s operational footprint.
The selection of Checkout.com was driven by its payment processing technology, straightforward integration, better performance metrics, an adaptable technical framework, and nuanced insights into regional payment preferences.
By blending worldwide reach with localized knowledge, Checkout.com is positioned to fuel Freenow’s expansion ambitions, ensuring that payment systems evolve in tandem with the company’s growth.
One standout feature of the partnership is the deployment of AI-enhanced analytics tools that scrutinize authorization patterns to refine payment efficiency and reliability for Freenow’s vast user base.
This intelligent, data-centric strategy enables better-informed decisions, elevating the overall payment journey for passengers.
Particularly noteworthy is the support for Freenow’s post-ride payment structure, where charges are settled after the trip concludes.
To navigate the intricacies of managing high-volume transactions—including instances of initial payment failures—Checkout.com has implemented digital wallet integrations and intelligent retry protocols.
These enhancements not only boost user satisfaction by minimizing disruptions but also streamline backend operations, reducing friction in the payment ecosystem.
Freenow by Lyft, a frontrunner in Europe’s taxi and multimodal transport landscape, benefits from this setup as it scales its services amid a surge in digital mobility demands.
The app’s all-in-one approach to urban travel has made it a go-to choice for commuters seeking flexibility and convenience.
Meanwhile, Checkout.com, renowned for its robust digital payment solutions, continues to expand its influence in fintech by partnering with key players in high-growth industries.
Chris von Rumohr, Vice President of Product & Engineering FinTech at Freenow by Lyft, emphasized the value of this collaboration:
“Empowering our users with hassle-free mobility hinges on a payment system that’s intuitively smooth and trustworthy. We partnered with Checkout.com due to its AI-optimized features, exceptional payment success rates, and expertise in regional processing across Europe. Their team invested effort in grasping the distinct hurdles of the large-scale mobility industry and crafted tailored solutions that align perfectly with our requirements.”
Antoine Nougué, Chief Revenue Officer at Checkout.com, remarked:
“Freenow by Lyft stands out as a pioneer in Europe’s taxi and mobility arena, and we’re thrilled to support their ongoing expansion. As travel shifts toward digital platforms, payments form the essential foundation for flawless, consistent user interactions. By fortifying Freenow’s transaction resilience and accommodating intricate post-trip billing, we’re contributing to their advancement in this dynamic mobility landscape.”
This alliance arrives at a pivotal time when European consumers increasingly expect integrated, contactless experiences in daily commuting.
By addressing payment challenges head-on, Checkout.com and Freenow are setting a benchmark for reliability in the fintech-mobility intersection, potentially motivating similar integrations across other sectors.
As urban populations grow and sustainability drives demand for shared transport, such partnerships could accelerate the adoption of efficient, tech-driven solutions.