Flowbird, the bus ticketing and payments specialists, has launched a new bus technology package that will help operators transform the experience for customers.
The company’s Bus Back Better offer ticks all the boxes for contactless payments and capped ticketing set out by the Department for Transport in its vision for the future of bus travel.
Alistair Aitken, Business Development Executive at Flowbird said:Everyone is learning to live in a COVID world and for bus operators this means leveraging technology that makes their customers feel as comfortable as possible on their daily journeys.
High on the list of priorities is contactless ticketing and payments, which not only offers easier, safer transactions for passengers but positions bus operators strongly to participate in the Enhanced Partnerships with local transport authorities that will be so important to the future viability of providers of bus services.
The new Flowbird bus market package includes a driver console, contactless cEMV, capped fares capability, BODS compliance and ITSO certification, along with cloud hosted back office software and a long warranty.
In addition, flexible payment terms, low transaction fees and monthly charges make this offer attractive to large and small bus operators.
Alistair said:Our Bus Back Better offer supports the immediate needs of operators in optimising available Government support while at the same time delivering the digital systems specified in Enhanced Partnerships that will open up new opportunities for bus companies.
High on the list of priorities for the DfT’s bus strategy are:
- Simpler bus fares with daily price caps
- Better service integration and ticketing across all transport modes
- Contactless payment on all buses
Alistair Aitken commented:Besides meeting Government requirements, the new solution offers straightforward integration with other applications such as passenger apps and m-ticketing, as well as validators for ‘touch on touch off’ - perfectly preparing operators for the new era of fare payments and wider mobility systems.
The package also provides a pathway to Flowbird’s bus-oriented mobility hub - which is available for operators and local transport authorities - opening up new retailing opportunities and ‘on demand’ service provision as the wider transport sector moves towards greater multi-modal integration. Bus transport will play an even greater role in getting people out of cars onto sustainable transport – and bus operators can be confident that this package will provide them with a reliable solution today and a future-ready platform for tomorrow.
Flowbird is a partner with bus operators in towns and cities around the world, helping them respond to growing consumer demand for frictionless travel that speeds up boarding times and makes it easier, quicker and safer for people to access and use public transport.
For example, for Lothian Buses in Edinburgh, the company provided the enabling technology for Scotland’s first ever ‘tap & cap’ contactless system. At the same time, Flowbird’s back office architectures are creating flexible, modular and scalable solutions for the management and control of network assets and systems, including ticket retailing infrastructures in France, Northern Ireland, the United States, Finland, Australia and beyond.
To find out more about the Flowbird Bus Back Better package, call 01202 339 452 or go to www.flowbird.group/transport/bus-back-better/.
This article was originally published by Flowbird.
