QUADRAC

What QUADRAC does

QUADRAC Co., Ltd. is a Tokyo-headquartered, privately held technology company founded in August 2009 that operates the Q-move cloud-native SaaS platform for transportation payment and authentication across Japan. The company develops and operates its proprietary Q-CORE settlement and authentication server (in development since 2011, commercially deployed since November 2020), which performs centralized fare calculation across Japan's intricate multi-operator transit network and connects to payment networks via the Sumitomo Mitsui Card (SMCC) "stera transit" channel. Q-move supports contactless credit/debit/prepaid card payments, smartphone payments, and QR code-based payments, and as of October 2024 it accepts all 7 major international card brands (Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Amex, Diners, Discover, UnionPay), enabling broad inbound tourist accessibility.

The platform serves more than 180 transportation operators — spanning railways, subways, buses, ferries, and streetcars — across 45 of Japan's 47 prefectures, with key accounts including Sapporo Metro, Sapporo Streetcar, Osaka Metro, Kintetsu, Hankyu, Hanshin, Keihan, Tokyo Metro, JR Kyushu, Keio Bus (largest Greater Tokyo bus deployment at ~300 vehicles), the Yui Rail monorail in Okinawa, and the Miyajima ferry. In March 2026, QUADRAC launched a Greater Tokyo mutual-use network spanning 11 railway operators, 54 lines, and 729 stations — the platform's largest coordinated rollout to date. The technology stack is full-stack in-house, from cloud servers to embedded terminal applications, and holds PCI DSS Ver4.0.0, PCI P2PE Ver3.1.0, ISO/IEC 27001:2022, ISO/IEC 27017, ISO/IEC 27018, and Privacy Mark certifications.

QUADRAC's business model is B2B2C: revenue derives from per-transaction processing fees and SaaS platform subscriptions paid by transportation operators, with the end-user payment processed through the stera transit channel and partner payment networks (SMCC, JCB, Visa, Mastercard, plus regional Japanese banks). GTM is a hybrid of direct enterprise sales to rail/bus/ferry operators and channel sales via SMCC, payment networks, regional banks, and MaaS consortiums. The company has 101 employees as of March 2026, registered capital of ¥100M, and relocated its headquarters to Harumi Island Triton Square in September 2025.

Name

QUADRAC

Legal name

QUADRAC株式会社（QUADRAC Co., Ltd.）

Website

https://quadrac.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

QUADRAC operates the Q-move SaaS platform for contactless transportation payment and authentication in Japan, serving 180+ rail, bus, ferry, and streetcar operators across 45 of 47 prefectures. Its cloud-native Q-CORE settlement server handles complex multi-operator fare calculation and integrates with 7 international card brands via the stera transit channel.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Transportation Payment Software

NAICS

Mixed Mode Transit Systems (485111), Bus and Other Motor Vehicle Transit Systems (485113)

SIC

Local & Suburban Transit & Interurban Hwy Passenger Trans (4100)

akta.pro primary industry

Mobile Ticketing & Digital Pass Apps (THAIAMAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Ground Transportation Booking Platforms (Rail/Bus/Ferry) (BPAMAIAD)

Keywords

• Transit payment platform
• Contactless fare collection
• Transportation authentication server
• MaaS payment infrastructure
• Multi-operator fare settlement

Headquarters

HQ city

Minami-aoyama

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Transaction/Fare Processing Fees: QUADRAC operates the Q-move payment/authentication center for transportation operators, processing touch-payment transactions and settling fares between operators and payment companies. Revenue is generated through per-transaction processing fees charged to transportation operators.
2. SaaS Platform Subscription: Q-move is described as a SaaS-type platform for transportation operators. Operators subscribe to use the payment processing and authentication infrastructure, likely on a per-scale or annual contract basis.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

QUADRAC develops and operates the Q-move cloud-native SaaS transportation payment and authentication platform, backed by its proprietary Q-CORE settlement server. The platform enables contactless credit, debit, prepaid, smartphone, and QR-code payments on trains, subways, buses, and ferries, and handles complex multi-operator fare calculations across Japan's transit networks.

Product overview

QUADRAC operates as a technology company specializing in transportation payment and authentication systems. The company offers Q-move, a SaaS-type transportation payment platform, backed by Q-CORE, a proprietary settlement and authentication server. Together, these products enable contactless payment across trains and buses by connecting fare calculation results to payment companies through the stera transit infrastructure. The company serves over 180 transportation operators across Japan.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Q-move: Transportation payment service enabling credit/debit card and smartphone touch payment for trains and buses. Users can tap contactless-enabled cards or smartphones to pay fares without purchasing tickets or charging IC cards. The service includes QR code payment options and integrates with the Q-CORE payment authentication center.

Products and services

• Q-move SaaS-based transportation payment and authentication service that allows passengers to tap contactless credit, debit, prepaid cards, smartphones, or QR codes to board trains, subways, buses, and ferries without purchasing tickets or recharging IC cards. It is sold to transportation operators and processes fare calculations and settlement through QUADRAC's authentication center, integrating with the stera transit payment platform.
• Q-CORE Proprietary transportation payment and authentication server developed and maintained in-house by QUADRAC. Q-CORE provides the backend infrastructure for fare calculation, settlement, and authentication across multiple transit operators and supports thin-client settlement.

Quantifiable outcome

• 180+ transportation operators nationwide
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers31 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core, regional and key.

• 三井住友カード株式会社coreTechnology or Integration · 22 April 2026Primary payment processing and technology partner providing the 'stera transit' solution. SMCC serves as the central payment network hub, enabling QUADRAC's Q-move platform to connect with international payment brands. Handles payment processing, settlement, and platform marketing to transit operators. This is the most critical partnership, representing the core payment infrastructure of Q-move.
• 株式会社ジェーシビー (JCB)coreTechnology or Integration · 22 April 2026International payment brand partner enabling JCB card touch-payment on Q-move. JCB is one of the 7 international brands supported by Q-move. Participates in joint press releases and service announcements with QUADRAC and SMCC.
• 北海道アトラス株式会社regionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 18 March 2026Hokkaido-based local partner for Sapporo Streetcar and JR Hokkaido Bus deployments. Manages local sales and implementation support in the Hokkaido region.
• 大雪、理解しましたkeyTechnology or Integration · 9 March 2026QR code technology provider (Denso Wave). QR Code standard essential for Q-move's QR-based payment alternative and digital ticket services across multiple deployments.
• オムロン ソーシアルソリューションズ株式会社keyTechnology or Integration · 8 September 2025System integrator and technology partner for fare gate and ticket system integration. Responsible for connecting Q-move backend with existing railway gate infrastructure (e.g., Toei Metro, Odakyu, Tokyu, Sagami Railway). Manages complex fare calculation system development for Greater Tokyo mutual-use network.
• ウェルネット株式会社regionalTechnology or Integration · 6 February 2025Digital ticket platform provider. Partnered for Shonan Monorail QR digital ticket (1-day pass + aquarium bundle). Provides ticketing platform infrastructure (Altair Triple Star Cloud).
• RYDE株式会社regionalTechnology or Integration · 6 February 2025Mobility service partner for Shonan Monorail deployment. Contributes to multi-modal mobility integration for Enoshima/Kamakura tourism route optimization.
• 日本信号株式会社keyTechnology or Integration · 12 December 2024Railway signal and ticket system equipment manufacturer. Integrates Q-move with automatic ticket gates and station systems. Key partner for JR Kyushu deployments and multiple railway operators including Sapporo Metro, Izuhakone Railway, Yokohama Rapid Railway.
• ビザ・ワールドワイド・ジャパン株式会社 (Visa Worldwide Japan)coreTechnology or Integration · 25 November 2024International payment brand partner enabling Visa card touch-payment on Q-move. Visa is a founding payment brand of the stera transit ecosystem. Participates in joint press releases and pilot programs.
• 株式会社ニモカkeyTechnology or Integration · 25 November 2024Regional payment processing and card system provider. Partners for Nagasaki MaaS, 唐津MaaS, and Minami-Aso Railway deployments. Provides local payment infrastructure integration.
• 株式会社トランザクション・メディア・ネットワークス (TMN)keyTechnology or Integration · 25 November 2024Payment gateway service provider enabling e-money, QR, and barcode payment processing. Partnered for Fukushima Transportation and Funaki Railway multi-payment deployments.
• 東芝インフラシステムズ株式会社keyTechnology or Integration · 21 November 2024Infrastructure technology partner for railway gate and system integration. Partnered for Nose Electric Railway full-station deployment and Keikyu line integrations.
• Mastercard InternationalcoreTechnology or Integration · 17 October 2024International payment brand partner. Mastercard support began October 17, 2024, enabling Q-move to support all international payment networks (Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Amex, Diners, Discover, UnionPay) as one unified system. Significant for inbound tourism accessibility.
• UnionPay International (銀聯)coreTechnology or Integration · 16 October 2024International payment brand partner completing the 7-brand coverage. UnionPay support particularly important for Chinese and Asian inbound tourists. Coverage announced as complete as of October 2024.
• 大雪、理解しましたkeyTechnology or Integration · 9 October 2024QR code technology provider. 'QR Code' is a registered trademark of Denso Wave Corporation. QR code standard enables the alternative payment method within Q-move's multi-modal payment offering.
• レシップ株式会社keyTechnology or Integration · 27 August 2024Terminal hardware manufacturer providing fare box readers and onboard terminals for bus deployments. Installs touch-payment terminals on buses and manages hardware supply chain including overseas production and import. Supports both QR and NFC payment terminals.
• 株式会社小田原機器keyTechnology or Integration · 27 August 2024Terminal hardware manufacturer providing bus and station payment terminals. Installs reader devices on buses and at stations. Key hardware partner for multiple regional bus operators across Japan.
• 株式会社みちのりホールディングスkeyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 August 2024Major transit holding company operating multiple regional bus companies. Strategic partner enabling Q-move deployment across multiple bus subsidiaries including Fukushima Kotsu, Aizu Bus, Shonan Monorail. Manages large fleet of ~500 buses under the partnership.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Masabi: UK-based provider of mobile ticketing and fare payment SaaS for transit agencies (Justride platform), serving bus, rail, and ferry operators globally. Directly comparable as a SaaS transit payment platform deployed across multiple operators with mobile and contactless payment capabilities.
• Vix Technology: Australia-based provider of transit fare collection and account-based ticketing systems deployed globally. Comparable as a software-focused transit payment platform serving rail and bus operators with similar multi-modal integration requirements.
• INIT GmbH: German provider of integrated telematics, fare collection, and passenger information systems for public transit. Comparable as a transit technology vendor serving bus and rail operators with software and hardware integration capabilities.
• Flowbird: European provider of smart ticketing, fare collection, and urban mobility solutions. Comparable as a contactless transit payment platform serving bus, rail, and parking operators with multi-modal capability.

Broad incumbents

• Cubic Transportation Systems: Largest global incumbent in transit fare collection, providing account-based ticketing, gates, and back-office systems to major transit agencies including Transport for London. Comparable as a comprehensive transit payment infrastructure provider, but at much larger scale and broader scope than QUADRAC.
• Conduent Transportation: Major North American incumbent providing fare collection, transit analytics, and mobility solutions. Comparable as a full-stack transit payment platform serving multiple operators, though focused primarily on the US market with a broader services portfolio.
• Thales Transportation: Global major in transport ticketing, fare collection, and security solutions. Comparable as a full-stack transit payment provider with significant scale, though broader in scope including hardware gates and security systems.
• JR East (Suica / Mobile Suica): JR East operates the Suica contactless IC card ecosystem, Japan's largest transit payment platform with nationwide inter-operator interoperability. Comparable as the dominant Japanese transit payment infrastructure, though owned and operated by a rail operator rather than an independent SaaS provider.

Emerging players

• Littlepay: UK-based payment infrastructure provider specializing in transit open-loop contactless payments. Comparable as an emerging cloud-based payment platform focused on account-based ticketing and multimodal fare collection.

Regional players

• NEC Corporation (Transit Solutions): Japanese conglomerate with a transit solutions business providing fare collection, biometric authentication, and smart transit systems. Comparable as a Japan-domestic transit technology provider, though competing from a different scale and product breadth.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/QUADRAC_J
• Facebookfacebook.com/Quadrac2012

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds5 records

Investors4 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about QUADRAC