İstanbul Loves You

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.

If you are nominating a brand-new product or service, state the date on which it was released. If you are nominating a new version of an existing product or service, state the date on which the update was released:

05.17.2024

Describe the features, functions, and benefits of the nominated product or service (up to 2,000 characters):

With İstanbulkart and İstanbulkart Mobile, we have transformed Istanbul's traditional transportation card into a multi-channel, scalable, and user-focused city life platform. As BELBİM, we have combined the physical card, mobile application, QR technology, bank/credit cards, and fintech services into a single integrated ecosystem to offer users an end-to-end, seamless payment and lifestyle experience.

With İstanbulkart Mobile, we have popularized public transportation payments via QR; we have brought together advanced financial functions in a single application, such as digital balance loading, automatic loading instructions, emergency limits, money transfers with FAST/KOLAS, IBAN creation, e-commerce with Virtual İstanbulkart Plus, and POS/ATM transactions with TR Karekod.

Using KYC, artificial intelligence, and RPA-supported processes, we have built a secure, fast, and fully compliant infrastructure while creating a 100% digital, seamless, and easy travel and payment experience for users.

We didn't limit this solution to individual users; we reached a wide target audience, from social support programs to students, tourists, small businesses, and corporate companies. We ensured that social assistance reached those in need via Istanbulkart, developed special solutions for tourists with Istanbul City Card, and on the B2B side, we created a structure that generates added value for the public and private sectors with IstanbulPOS and corporate subscription models.

As a marketing and application solution, with Istanbulkart Mobile, we achieved high download and active user numbers, shifted loading behaviors to digital channels, achieved market leadership in QR payments, and achieved measurable and sustainable success with personalized campaign designs. By taking Istanbulkart beyond being a transportation card, we have transformed it into a scalable and sustainable city life solution that represents Istanbul's digitalization vision.

Outline the market performance, critical reception, and customer satisfaction with the product or service to date. State monetary or unit sales figures to date, if possible, and how they compare to expectations or past performance. Provide links to laudatory product or service reviews. Include some customer testimonials, if applicable (up to 2,000 characters):

With İstanbulkart and İstanbulkart Mobile, we have demonstrated strong scale and high user adoption in the market. Today, we manage 24 million active cards in the Istanbulkart ecosystem; Istanbulkart Mobile has reached approximately 20 million downloads and 4 million active users, making us one of Istanbul's most widely used fintech applications. By mainstreaming QR payment usage in public transportation, we have achieved 175 million QR transactions annually and secured clear leadership in this field with an 80% market share. By increasing the share of top-ups made through digital channels to 40%, we have created a permanent shift in user behavior from physical to digital channels. For non-transportation payments, we transformed Istanbulkart into a city life card valid at over 100,000 locations; we increased the total transaction volume in this area to approximately 4.7 billion TL, raising the share of non-transportation transactions to 12% of the total.

We also achieved strong results in terms of critical evaluation and customer satisfaction. According to an independent brand perception survey, we achieved 96.3% user satisfaction with Istanbulkart Mobile; we positioned the Istanbulkart brand as one of Istanbul's most reliable, reputable, and high-touch city brands with a 99.9% awareness rate.

İstanbulkart Wrapped 2025: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DS7uSdwDHWl/?igsh=aDM2OXRpcWVxMWNz

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):

This application describes measurable achievements, innovative solutions, and the value provided to users, while also acknowledging the extraordinary circumstances under which the work was carried out.

During the period covered by the application, Istanbul underwent an unprecedented and extremely challenging process in terms of public administration. During this period, when the Mayor of Istanbul was unlawfully deprived of his freedom, rather than halting or slowing down our work as an institution or shirking our public responsibility, we resolutely continued on our path with the mindset of "keep working, keep producing."

Despite the uncertainty and pressure, our teams continued to implement new products, digital services, and innovative projects that made daily life easier for Istanbulites. A common will has been demonstrated in every application, every campaign, and every point of contact: Public service does not stop, innovation does not falter, and citizens must continue to have access to reliable, inclusive, and modern services even in the most difficult times.

Therefore, this application reflects not only operational successes, but also dedication to the public good, institutional resilience, and the determination to serve Istanbul despite all circumstances.

Belbim in Numbers

Category	Indicator	Value
User Scale	Annual active Istanbulkart users	24 million
Communication-enabled	Users with communication permission	12.6 million
Mobile Reach	Number of Istanbulkart Mobile downloads	20 million
Digital Usage	Monthly active digital users	4 million
Growth	Monthly mobile new registrations	250 thousand
Daily Usage	Average daily mobile users	565,000
Payment Systems	FAST transactions	27,000 transactions per month
Money Transfer	P2P transactions	121,000 transfers per month
Fintech Product	İstanbulkart Plus	67,000 transactions per month / 22 million TL volume
Social Media Impact	Social media reach	100 million impressions / 6 million interactions (annual)
Marketing	Campaigns	21 campaigns / 4.2 million TL in prizes (annual)
Corporate Success	Awards	Total 141 awards

 

Overall Campaign Performance

Indicator	Value
Total number of campaigns	21 campaigns
People benefiting from campaigns	234 thousand people
Total prize amount distributed	4.2 million TL
Users with communication permission	12.6 million