Unlocking Rides with RFID Cards

Did you ever wonder how many riders drop off from renting just because opening the app feels like too much friction? At OTORide, we saw an opportunity to eliminate that hurdle while giving operators tighter control and traceability.

What is RFID Unlocking?

RFID unlocking allows riders to start a trip simply by tapping a registered RFID card on the vehicle. No phone or app needed in the moment. Each card is securely linked to the rider’s account and profile, ensuring every trip is logged and tracked with full transparency and safety.

Why We Built It?

We launched this feature in February 2025 for our client Kaha Bikes in Cyprus, led by CEO Neofytos Ioannou. The Kaha team needed a flexible solution to serve students at the local university in Cyprus. Many preferred a quick tap-and-go rental model, and KAHA saw an opportunity to create a new revenue stream through semester or monthly RFID-based subscriptions. KAHA CEO Neofytos Ioannou said it best: "This feature didn’t just improve convenience—it opened doors to new markets we couldn’t access before. From flexible campus subscriptions to institutional partnerships, RFID made our offering far more scalable and efficient. The level of customization and seamless integration we experienced was beyond anything we had seen in the industry—it allowed us to craft a solution truly tailored to our operational model." - Neofytos Ioannou, Kaha Bikes, CEO

Instead of opening the app every time, students can simply tap their assigned RFID card on any available bike or scooter and start their ride instantly. It’s the fastest, most frictionless experience in shared mobility—tailored for environments like campuses, corporate fleets, and gated communities.

How It Works?

It's incredibly simple. As a rider, once you receive your RFID card, you just enter the card’s credentials into your profile on the OTORide app. The system then links that card to your rider account. From that moment on, the card acts just like the app—it can unlock vehicles, log rides, and handle payments. No need to take your phone out. Just tap and ride.

As an operator, you can issue and assign these RFID cards through your OTORide Admin Dashboard. Each ride initiated with a card is:

• Logged and timestamped in the rider’s trip history
• Linked to their payment and subscription plan
• Monitored and controlled in real time by your dashboard tools

And in May 2025, we took it a step further by introducing Group Rental via RFID. This mirrors our mobile app’s group rental feature, allowing one rider to unlock multiple vehicles using just one registered RFID card—ideal for friends, families, or student groups traveling together.

RFID unlocking works with vehicles that have integrated RFID-compatible IoT hardware. The OTORide platform supports seamless onboarding and setup in just a few days.

What Sets It Apart?

While RFID unlocking is not entirely unique in the market, the depth of integration and flexibility available through OTORide takes it to a new level. Our approach allows for unmatched control over how and where RFID is used—from single-tap access to dynamic subscription models—making it far more adaptable than anything else we've seen in the industry.

Benefits to Operators

• Faster ride starts, boosting vehicle usage rates
• Easy to create tiered subscription plans (monthly, semester, annual)
• Reduced dependence on smartphones or app logins
• Precise tracking for safety and compliance
• A smoother experience that builds loyalty in student-heavy zones

Designed for Control and Convenience

This feature doesn’t sacrifice operator control. You decide which vehicles support RFID. You assign and revoke access. You define usage limits, zones, and time windows. All while giving riders the seamless, high-tech convenience they love.

Want to see it in action? Our team can help you set up RFID unlocking for your fleet in less than a week—fully integrated, branded, and built to scale with your business.