What ’ s Missing from MaaS Today
Why Implementing MaaS is About Much More than An App
By Garrett Vandendries
Everyone is talking about Mobility as a Service ( MaaS ) as the “ holy grail ” transportation solution where passengers can choose from several transit options , make choices in realtime , and pay for them — all in one app . This sentiment holds true on so many levels ; however , MaaS is more than just an app or the “ Netflix ” of transportation . It is an opportunity for transit agencies to offer complete mobility solutions to their communities and truly elevate the rider and agency experience . And to do that , we need to think as much about the technology driving our transit service as we do about the end-user app itself .
MaaS is broader and more innovative than any single streaming service . It brings multiple platforms together , cohesively , into a holistic solution . MaaS puts real freedom of choice and transit options into people ’ s hands by keeping information flowing in real-time , updating passengers with key data during their trip , and keeping vehicles scheduled at the right place . More importantly , MaaS gives transit agencies an unparalleled understanding of how people use transit in their cities , and the knowledge to enhance their operations to exceed the expectations of evolving rider demands . Imagine you are on commuter rail and planning a ride share transfer , but there is a track delay . When should the driver pick you up ? Will you have to cancel the trip and rebook ? What is your updated arrival time ? A well-built MaaS solution should answer these questions and entice people who have not used public transit before to give it a try . Someone might live close to a bus or rail line , but their destination is not near the lines . Using MaaS , travelers can combine public transit with a taxi , ride share , mobility-on-demand , or even a bike , to close the mobility gap . People need more than convenience to try public transit , they also need confidence in travel planning . They need to know they will get where they are going smoothly , on time , and stress-free . At Trapeze , we focus on ensuring MaaS promotes the value of mass transit to riders and encourages people to take transit . To do that , we think about not just the front-end of our solutions but everything that brings our MaaS application , and mobility overall , to life . An integrated mobility ecosystem incorporates everything from mobility planning and asset management to real-time system information , route optimization , and mobility on demand , while ensuring that data flows between the rider-facing app and the backend technologies . Rich back-end integrations enable rich mobility analytics about rider travel patterns and how to improve service delivery over time . Rider satisfaction is only the beginning of what effective MaaS technologies can offer . As an industry , we are moving beyond evaluating the effectiveness of regional transportation based solely on traditional metrics like ridership , and towards evaluating services based on their positive impact on customer experience . When we start to think about the bigger impact of solving these core mobility goals – and the technology it takes to do so – then we can start to understand how MaaS is truly more than just an app . To spur usage , a MaaS solution must do a few things well right off the bat . It needs to integrate the services people use , make it easy for riders to find these services , and allow for a simple way to plan , book , and pay for end-to-end mobility needs . For agencies , a MaaS solution needs to leverage all their existing systems and ensure a harmonious alignment between services as planned and service as delivered . All technologies – digital signage , schedules , buses , trains , an alternative transport mode – need to be in sync , and riders need to receive that information reliably and consistently throughout their journeys . If a vehicle needs to be pulled off the road for maintenance , agencies maintain service continuity and to communicate information to all customers that best limits disruptions to their trip . To do that , MaaS needs to be built from a strong foundation — and that is the integrated mobility ecosystem Trapeze offers . MaaS apps are important , but they are not new . Few apps available today seamlessly integrate all the elements a transit platform built upon decades of industry-leading experience offers . At Trapeze , we can , and it is what we are doing every day to elevate the rider experience . For Trapeze , MaaS is more than yet another transit app . It is transforming how we view the role of transit agencies and improves regional mobility for all . To do that , let us consider the entire mobility ecosystem upon which MaaS is built . We are ready to do so . Are you ?
Garrett Vandendries is an industry-recognized technology leader and the director of product management - MaaS at Trapeze Group . Vandendries directs product strategies related to trip planning , payments , analytics and data science , and other platform integrations therein which enhance how agencies deliver — and customers experience — regional mobility . He has spent his career helping public transit and transportation agencies around the world improve their business operations through context-sensitive strategic management and an innovative approach to fostering meaningful technological change . Vandendries is a proud Leadership APTA alumnus , international traveler , woodworker , average guitar player , and all-around transit nerd . Visit
www . trapezegroup . com for more information .
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