Boost efficiency. Ensure success.

INIT presents IT solutions to increase operational efficiency at InnoTrans

Account-based ticketing enables access to public transport with the help of bank and credit cards, even for occasional travelers who do not wish to understand the fare system. (© INIT/Kerstin Groh)

Karlsruhe – 22 July 2024

At InnoTrans, taking place from 24 to 27 September 2024 at Messe Berlin, INIT, worldwide leading provider of integrated IT solutions for public transport, will present the enhancements to its modular planning, scheduling, telematics and ticketing system, MOBILE, at Booth 425 in hall 2.1. The focus will be on solutions that enable public transport companies to increase their operational efficiency, automate their processes and ultimately reduce the workload for their employees. This can help create the financial opportunities to make further improvements in service quality.

Account-based Ticketing on the increase

Across the world, ticketing has become quite easy for passengers. They pay for their ride by simply tapping their bank/credit card or their smartphone on a ticket terminal when boarding or alighting. They check in using the credit card industry standard EMV and the background system books the travel authorization onto the physical or virtual card. The background system calculates the fare after check-out, ensuring that passengers are always charged the best available fare for their ride, including fare capping for daily passes, for example.

It is extremely easy, in particular for occasional riders, tourists and business travelers. They particularly benefit if they don’t have to deal with the various tariffs, don’t need to register or try and locate a Ticket Vending Machine.

With EMV ticketing and its account-based approach, transport providers can now tap into new target groups beyond frequent travelers and consequently increase public transport’s market share. In the long term, cash-, personnel- and maintenance-intensive sales channels can be reduced, thereby making ticket sales more efficient. INIT’s EMV solution which is also available as Software-as-a-Service, can also be deployed, in addition to existing ticketing solutions as part of a multi-channel sales strategy.

Automation increases efficiency in incident management and passenger information

Assistance systems as well as the automation of processes are extremely suitable in order to increase work efficiency. Both methods are utilised by RESPONSEassist, INIT’s automated incident management and multi-channel passenger information system. It generates the passenger information for all channels automatically on the basis of predefined texts – tailored to the individual demands of the individual channel – and facilitates the distribution to all channels with a single click. This allows dispatchers to focus on their core competence – incident management. But also in this respect RESPONSEassist provides a completely new level of support: incidents can be resolved much more efficiently using standard operating procedures stored in forms than with conventional methods. The operating documentation is automatically created at the same time.

Services allow to concentrate on core competencies

Public transport companies rely on complex, up-to-date IT systems that work around the clock. These systems can create a lot of work for public transport operators, but this work does not necessarily has to be carried out by the company's own employees. INIT supports them with external experts who maintain a constant overview of the company's IT systems, intervene where necessary to ensure system availability and advise on possible efficiency improvements. These support options are divided into the following service offerings: monitoring, maintenance, system management and IT, change management and administration. In the area of administration, INIT also manages data maintenance, for fare data and devices, for example. Numerous public transport companies worldwide already enjoy the benefits of INIT's operational services - and can concentrate on their core business.

Increasing efficiency and service quality altogether

Artificial intelligence and machine learning are important “drivers of innovation” in INIT systems. INIT's MOBILEguide crowd and occupancy management solution also benefits from this. Using a process that has been patented, the system not only takes into account the current vehicle occupancy rate, but also the number of passengers expected to alight at the respective stops, resulting in more reliable information than was ever available with previous solutions.

This information allows passengers to choose less busy connections. In addition, information can be processed for specific carriages and used in railway systems to ensure a better distribution of passengers in individual carriages and at platforms. Passengers can be advised to wait and board wherever seats are expected to be available, which ultimately reduces boarding and alighting times. This can help to increase the efficiency of existing infrastructure by adapting the headway.

Efficiently introducing and deploying e-buses

INIT's comprehensive eMOBILE product suite fully covers all requirements for planning and controlling electric buses. (© Stadtwerke Osnabrück)

Electromobility represents a massive technology shift that must first be fully understood. Even before the first e-buses are purchased, various deployment scenarios should be simulated and the effects on investments, operating costs and operations should be assessed. Only in this way can investments and operating resources be utilized as efficiently as possible to gain the maximum efficiency. This is made possible by the simulation module of the eMOBILE-PLAN planning solution. It can be used in advance, to determine the public transport company’s most appropriate charging concept and identify suitable blocks for the use of e-buses. Even in the introductory phase, when only minimal practical experience or none at all has been gained, simulation provides further important findings to help minimize risks and use existing e-buses as efficiently as possible.

eMOBILE-PLAN is part of the comprehensive eMOBILE product suite. This includes the extension of the eMOBILE-ITCS Intermodal Transport Control System, which, together with the MOBILErange range forecast, enables precise knowledge and monitoring of the state of charge and remaining range. The suite also includes the depot management system eMOBILE-DMS, which ensures the optimized provision of e-buses and cost-efficient charging processes, and the charge management system MOBILEcharge, which enables and implements cost-optimised charging strategies.

IT support on a whole new level

Various savings offers, e.g. Germany’s nationwide Deutschlandticket, have made public transport more financially attractive for existing and potential passengers. However, financing these incentives has led to revenue shortages. This hinders investments in service quality – that remain a key reason for switching to bus and rail.

It is good that this challenge can be overcome with technological support – for example, with the automation of tasks and processes, with assistance systems that make tasks easier for employees, or with solutions that make best use of existing infrastructure and available resources.

INIT uses these technologies to help public transport companies free up resources by increasing their operational efficiency, allowing them to improve service quality.

Detailed information on all these solutions will be available to visitors to INIT’s booth 425 in hall 2.1.

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Account-based ticketing enables access to public transport with the help of bank and credit cards, even for occasional travelers who do not wish to understand the fare system. (© INIT/Kerstin Groh)

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