İstanbulkart Hayatın Her Anında Yanında!

BELBİM is the founder of the R&D intensive 'Electronic Fare Collection System', which has been in service in the Istanbul public transportation system since 1987. Our company offers this system, which it has developed in-house completely with domestic and national software technology, to various sectors as electronic money and payment system with its accurate, secure transaction infrastructure.

Briefly describe the nominated organization or individual: history and past performance (up to 1,250 characters):

BELBİM Inc. is a subsidiary of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality and is the authorized institution responsible for the end-to-end design, operation, and continuity of Istanbul's Electronic Fare Collection Systems. Since its establishment, BELBİM has been operating a critical public technology infrastructure that impacts the daily lives of millions of users by transforming the public transportation payment infrastructure in one of the world's largest metropolises.

The Istanbulkart ecosystem developed by BELBİM has evolved beyond a traditional transportation card approach to become a digital, accessible, and human-centered city experience. With the İstanbulkart Mobile app, public transportation payments in Istanbul have become fully digital; a seamless and contactless payment experience is offered across the entire network, including buses, metros, metrobus, trams, sea lines, and Marmaray. In this context, Istanbul has become the only city in Europe where digital payments can be made on all public transportation vehicles.

BELBİM's distinctive strength lies not only in offering an app, but also in developing and operating all software and hardware in an integrated manner, from field validators to back-end systems.

Service continuity is ensured even without an internet connection through innovative solutions such as offline QR; high standards in public services are implemented by prioritizing inclusiveness, accessibility, and user satisfaction. Today, BELBİM is a concrete and sustainable representative of the smart city vision through its scale, operational maturity, and user-centric approach.

Outline the nominated achievements since July 1, 2023 that you wish to bring to the judges' attention (up to 1,500 characters):

Since July 1, 2023, BELBİM has transformed İstanbulkart Mobil from being just a transportation app into a comprehensive digital city platform that directly impacts the daily lives of Istanbul residents. The Automatic Top-Up Instruction and Emergency Limit features, implemented to eliminate inconveniences caused by insufficient balances, have ensured uninterrupted access to public transportation and set a new standard in customer satisfaction and service continuity. The Additional Digital Balance service, launched during the same period, offers citizens interest-free and low-interest digital balance options, making it part of the Istanbulkart Mobile social support approach.

Thanks to the money transfer feature launched on İstanbulkart Mobile, users can transfer balances between their own İstanbulkart cards and the cards of different users; they can also make quick and easy transfers between banks and payment institutions. This step has turned the application into a powerful digital tool that meets daily financial needs beyond transportation.

Starting with Virtual Istanbulkart Plus and continuing with the launch of the Istanbulkart Plus scheme, it is now possible to make payments online and in physical stores, both domestically and internationally, via Istanbulkart Mobile. With this transformation, BELBİM has turned İstanbulkart into a modern digital wallet used in every aspect of city life through its innovative approach centered on customer experience.

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Explain why the achievements you have highlighted are unique or significant. If possible compare the achievements to the performance of other players in your industry and/or to the organization's past performance (up to 1,500 characters):

These developments implemented by BELBİM are not the result of any legal or operational necessity; they are conscious and proactive steps toward the vision of carrying Istanbul into the future. As a public institution providing Istanbul's public transportation payment infrastructure, our primary duty is merely to collect fares; however, we have gone beyond this limit, treating digitalization as a strategic choice and a public responsibility. This approach is the concrete embodiment of Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu's vision of a "people-centered, inclusive, and smart city."

None of the services such as Automatic Top-up, Emergency Limit, money transfer, and Istanbulkart Plus are the result of a request from the municipality or users. On the contrary, solutions have been developed with the goals of uninterrupted transportation, financial accessibility, and ease of use, anticipating problems that citizens may encounter in their daily lives. In this respect, BELBİM stands out not only as a service provider but also as a public technology institution that anticipates user behavior and city needs. Compared to similar applications in other major cities around the world, Istanbul is one of the few cities that has a 100% digital payment infrastructure for all modes of public transportation, uses advanced technologies such as offline QR, and has achieved this transformation through public means. BELBİM's structure, which was previously only a transportation card operator, has now transformed into a digital platform at the center of the smart city ecosystem. The real importance of this transformation lies not so much in technological innovation, but in the right vision, the right timing, and the determined implementation power that focuses on public benefit.

Reference any attachments of supporting materials throughout this nomination and how they provide evidence of the claims you have made in this nomination (up to 1,500 characters):

All claims made in this application are supported by concrete and verifiable visual and numerical materials provided in the appendices. Visuals showing the İstanbulkart Mobile and 100% digital public transportation payment infrastructure clearly demonstrate that Istanbul is the only city in Europe offering digital payment across all modes of public transportation (buses, metro, metrobus, tram, sea lines, and Marmaray). Materials showing QR, offline QR, and multiple payment alternatives support claims of service continuity and inclusivity.

Virtual Istanbulkart Plus and Istanbulkart Plus visuals prove that Istanbulkart has gone beyond transportation to become a "city wallet" that can be used for online and physical shopping, both domestically and internationally. These additions substantiate claims regarding financial accessibility and the expansion of daily use areas.

BELBİM in Numbers and performance dashboards document scale, impact, and operational maturity with millions of active users, high transaction volumes, widespread use of digital channels, and strong engagement rates. Campaign performance and alternative campaign models demonstrate a high-reach, low-cost, sustainable public communication approach.

Creative initiatives such as İstanbulkart Wrapped and Spotify integration support an innovative customer experience approach that establishes an emotional connection with users, while award visuals demonstrate BELBİM's success, recognized by independent institutions at the national and international levels. The project roadmap proves that this transformation is not random, but is carried out with a planned and sustainable vision. All of these additions clearly demonstrate that the claims made in the application are based on measurable results, large scale, and consistent public benefit.