South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) has selected Velociti Solutions’ contract management and performance system to support its efforts in franchising the region’s bus network.
SYMCA aims to make bus travel the preferred choice across South Yorkshire and has recently announced its decision to transition towards a franchised system, bringing bus services back under public control for the first time in four decades.
The authority currently oversees 360 tendered bus routes operated by 15 different companies. Historically, this management has been conducted manually, leading to limited data availability and complex operational processes.
To enhance efficiency and improve bus services, SYMCA must assess the performance of its contracted network, identifying strengths and areas requiring improvement. Velociti’s contract performance solution, designed specifically for the bus sector, will enable SYMCA to oversee all aspects of contract management and monitoring via a single platform.
The system provides detailed analyses of the contracted network and allows benchmarking of operators against key performance indicators (KPIs). Operators are evaluated based on three primary standards: reliability, driver performance, and adherence to vehicle and operational processes, including maintenance.
Matt Goggins, Director of Bus Reform at SYMCA said:As we transition towards a franchised network, it is essential that we have the right tools in place to manage and monitor network performance cost-effectively. Gaining a deeper understanding of our contracted network is critical to improving services and increasing bus usage across South Yorkshire.
Having all performance metrics readily available in one platform is invaluable; it will save us valuable time on administrative tasks and enable us to develop improvement plans based on in-depth and accurate data.
Beyond contract performance, SYMCA has also implemented the ETM DAS system to capture and analyse passenger transaction data within the contracted network. This system records ticket types purchased, total passenger numbers, and other metrics, equipping SYMCA with data to make informed and cost-effective decisions.
Nick Brookes, Chief Customer Officer at Velociti Solutions, said:We are excited to assist SYMCA in their efforts to enhance bus service delivery in South Yorkshire, as they move towards a franchised network. Greater collaboration between Local Transport Authorities (LTAs) and bus operators is vital, whether a region opts for a franchised or enhanced partnership model. Transparency is key, and that is what contract performance provides—clear metrics that empower LTAs to make data-driven decisions that meet the needs of passengers, ultimately leading to increased patronage.
