We catch up with Kirsty Dobson from Smart Applications Management to find out more about their brand and exhibiting at Euro Bus Expo, on stand 168.
Tell us a bit about your company?
Smart Applications Management (SAM) is a not for profit, membership organisation, specifically created to help local councils, commercial bus operators and other public sector bodies realise the benefits of ITSO smart ticketing, by pooling resources and expertise to access best in class services and systems at an affordable price through economies of scale.
Since our creation in 2010 we have been exceeding our Vision for Members in delivering a wide range of solutions, from small concessionary entitlement schemes to large commercial schemes. In this time we have grown into the UK’s largest independent ITSO smart ticketing Managed Service provider, and led the UK in commissioning and hosting the National Procurement Framework for smart and integrated ticketing services and goods. This has all been based on the core principle of delivering high quality, value for money solutions for our Members.
We continue to be at the forefront of smart ticketing innovation and development not only continuing to deliver high-quality smart ticketing solutions but also in helping shape the future of smart ticketing in areas such as scholars ticketing, ITSO on mobile and on-bus contactless EMV payments.
Tell us about your latest product(s), service(s), promotions or launches visitors can hope to see on your stand?
The SAM Managed Service has developed for our Members over the last 8 years to help them deliver smart and integrated ticketing. In its simplest form, the SAM Managed Service is a series of 8 individual support Packages which can be combined to provide a complete end-to-end managed service for smart and integrated ticketing, tailored to meet the needs of an individual SAM Member.
In 2021 SAM held a number of internal workshops and meetings to review and consider all elements which SAM Members wished to be included within a revised Managed Service approach for Members for the new contract period April 2023 – March 2027.
As a SAM Member, when purchasing a Managed Service Package from us, you are not just getting access to the software from our Supplier partners, but the support of a team dedicated to ensuring you can get the best out of your integrated smart system – however large or small that may be.
Why is exhibiting at Euro Bus Expo 2026 an unmissable opportunity for you?
Euro Bus Expo 2026 presents an excellent opportunity for SAM to raise our profile, strengthen existing customer relationships and generate new commercial opportunities across the UK bus and transport sector. As one of the key industry events, the exhibition provides direct access to operators, local authorities, transport organisations, technology providers and industry decision-makers, making it an ideal environment to showcase the breadth of support SAM can provide.
For SAM, the event is particularly valuable as we continue to develop our account management and business development activities. It will allow us to demonstrate our expertise across ITSO, ISAM management, ticketing systems, project and migration support, reporting, supplier liaison and managed services. Importantly, we can position SAM not simply as a service provider, but as an experienced partner that can provide additional resource, expertise and reassurance to organisations managing increasingly complex ticketing environments.
The exhibition will also provide an opportunity to build on our existing experience supporting operators and transport organisations across the UK, including a growing number of Scottish operators. Sharing relevant customer experience and demonstrating our understanding of the challenges faced by operators will help establish credibility with prospective customers and partners.
Euro Bus Expo will also enable us to meet existing customers face-to-face, strengthen relationships and identify future requirements, projects and opportunities for additional support. At the same time, engaging with technology suppliers and other industry partners could create valuable referral, collaboration and partnership opportunities.
Most importantly, exhibiting gives SAM a platform to have meaningful conversations with organisations about their current challenges and identify where we can add genuine value. With a focused approach to pre-event engagement, meetings, lead generation and post-event follow-up, we can ensure the exhibition delivers measurable commercial outcomes.
For SAM, Euro Bus Expo 2026 is therefore more than an industry exhibition—it is an opportunity to strengthen our position within the market, develop relationships, generate new business and demonstrate why SAM is a trusted partner for ticketing and transport technology support.