Intelligent solutions help optimise resource planning, transport sustainability, intermodality, passenger service and drivers’ work-life balance, among other aspects.
The new context and the challenges to achieve a global improvement of urban transport management, puts the passenger transport sector before the need to digitise, much more. Passenger transport, a service of vital importance, must incorporate great improvements to its operation thanks to planning enhanced by ICT (Information and Communication Technologies). In this context, Goal Systems, world leader in optimisation and planning software for the passenger transport industry, analyses the keys and benefits of planning to advance towards a more intelligent and sustainable transport.
- Optimised planning, the key to profitability and savings: When talking about advantages or benefits, the economic factor is inevitably present. Optimisation software applied to urban and interurban transport planning (metro, bus or train) helps companies and administrations to reduce costs which, in some cases, can mean savings of between 5% and 12% on average. In this way, the profitability is direct, and this budget can be invested in improving other aspects of the company or, in the case of public administrations, improving and extending the service to more users, and adjusting their budgets.
- Fleets adjusted to the city. In terms of savings, optimised planning ensures that routes are covered with the minimum number of vehicles without any loss of service quality. The vehicles saved allow the network or timetables to be extended, improving passenger satisfaction.
- Better work-life balance for drivers. Drivers work long hours and often find it difficult to reconcile work with family, studies or other jobs. Planning tools must be capable of combining the optimisation of planning with the social demand for a better adaptation of working and rest times to the needs of each employee, which will bring advantages in their daily activity, in the management of shifts, holidays and driver absences. This planning must take into account the needs and preferences of the employee as much as possible and, of course, make it easier for them to consult timetables, changes and the distribution of their weekly or monthly schedule, which, thanks to these planning tools, can be done conveniently and from any mobile device. Employee well-being is a source of productivity
- Towards a Smart City model. Optimised planning solutions include an in-depth analysis of many external and internal aspects that imply a global improvement of transport management in cities (demand, infrastructure, network, fleet size, human resources needed to cover the service,…). ). At the same time, the collection and analysis of all types of data that affect planning allows changes and improvements to be made in real time and new horizons to be built, taking reality into account and modelling predictions, thus favouring intelligent decision-making.
- Sustainability and commitment to reducing emissions. Climate change is a palpable reality and transport, both private and passenger, plays a key role in sustainable development frameworks. The decarbonisation of cities is a priority and the transport sector is focusing on sustainability. The sector must make use of planning tools to help reduce emissions and avoid a major impact on the ecosystem. Technology focused on planning makes it possible to select the most appropriate resource use, the optimal route, the most sustainable timetable and to make better use of fleets. In addition, with the introduction of electric vehicles, by optimally managing chargers and batteries in the most efficient way, public transport contributes to improving our environment in a very significant way.
- A better travel experience. Correct and efficient vehicle planning can bring multiple benefits and advantages to passengers as regular transport users. Thanks to data management, the service is improved by optimising the location of stops, interchanges, better connection points, connections, timetables, etc. All of this encourages users to use public transport to get around the city.
- Real intermodality. The combination of different modes of transport, such as bus, metro, train or tram, improves the quality of life in the city. It allows citizens to travel comfortably and sustainably from their front door to their final destination. Planning solutions help to ensure that the different modes of transport are coordinated to help them move around with as few changes and as little waiting time as possible, according to their individual preferences and needs.
