Satisfying Bus Customer App-etite For Better Information

POOLE, U.K. - Nov. 4, 2013 - PRLog -- Arriva UK and Parkeon are partnering on a world-first messaging system that heralds the arrival of true real-time communication with customers...wherever they happen to be.

Arriva’s entire UK bus fleet is using the inbuilt RTIG over-the-air functionality of Parkeon’s Wayfarer200 ticketing platform to collect schedule information and precise vehicle GPS location data and then communicate information to customers using Apps or local authority real time systems via a centralised Data Broker service

“This is one of our biggest projects of the year,” says Mike Woodhouse, Marketing Manager at Arriva UK Bus. “We are currently piloting buses with this technology in the north-east of England and our intention is to roll it out across the rest of the country in the near future.”

The innovation is designed to provide ‘time empowerment’ for regular travellers who can access real time travel information via a smartphone App. For people not used to bus travel, the App will provide details of their nearest bus stop, bus routes, schedules and, in time, fares.

“This means that they can make best use of their available time no matter where they happen to be – at home, at the office...or even in the pub,” says Mike Woodhouse.

Gavin Trimnell, Head of UK Sales at Parkeon, commented: “Arriva is the first big group to take advantage of the real time, over-the-air capability of the Wayfarer200 system as a means of communicating directly with customers. The expectations of passengers regarding information flow and accuracy continue to grow through the availability of Apps in every area of daily life...now, thanks to Arriva, there’s a bus travel communication system truly fit for a smarter world.”

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