Provide the best service to your customers through efficiency, safety and passenger comfort. Our suppliers are here to help
Adapting to the changing needs and expectations of customers and staff is critical for any successful operator, especially when it comes to technology.
Pre-COVID, this was all about features such as onboard wi-fi, charging ports, and next stop announcements. While these are beneficial in enhancing the customer experience, technology now plays a huge role in keeping coaches and buses COVID-secure.
routeone talks to some of the leading suppliers helping operators keep customers and staff protected while running as efficiently as possible.
Increase passenger satisfaction
Encouraging people to travel by coach and bus more often is the aim of the game. One way to achieve this is by providing the best possible journey experience.
Shared mobility service Zeelo provides a cost-effective and simple way for you to offer smart technology to your passengers. Its Zeeride platform takes coach and bus travel “to the next level” with features such as vehicle tracking and live alerts, booking and driver apps and QR ticketing. The platform also features contact tracing to ensure the safety of drivers, workplaces and schools.
Zeelo Head of Marketing Cale Pissarra says: “Zeelo has been working closely with operators for several years now to build the tools that they need to succeed. Zeeride is an independent platform that allows coach and bus operators of any size to digitalise their fixed-route and shuttle services.
“Operators that join the platform can offer pre-booking via individual tickets and subscriptions, vehicle tracking and service reporting features without the hassle or cost of building and maintaining the technology themselves.”
As well as the use of the tools, Zeeride operators get all the training and technical support they need for a smooth operation of services on the platform. This includes online tutorials and access to online help guides, how-to videos and a technical support team.
Improve efficiencies
The operational efficiencies that come with the latest technology are a huge benefit, too. Take CheckedSafe, for example. The vehicle compliance solution offers apps and a web-based reporting system that makes managing the compliance aspect of operations simple.
CheckedSafe has also developed its tech during the pandemic to help operators stay COVID-secure for their staff and passengers.
Gary Hawthorne, CheckedSafe Director, says: “We can provide templates to ensure vehicles are cleansed effectively within COVID-19 guidelines. We can also add questions to any existing templates for clarity on drivers’ health on the day, including entering results from lateral flow tests and a photo of the results.
“Our system also allows you to push out documents and messages on mobile devices, which is great for remote team briefings. This is all inclusive in our model to ensure operators are fully compliant.”
TruTac is also here to help make compliance management efficient. The software and tachograph analysis specialist, part of the Microlise Group, provides failsafe and secure clocking-on and clocking-off solutions for drivers and employees. The TruTac system produces instant reports with analysis of absences, tachograph data and real-time attendance.
TruTac’s suite of products range from tachograph analysis to driver licence checking to streamline compliance and data management, which saves operators time and money, says the firm.
Jemma James, TruTac’s Director of Commercial Operations and Marketing, says: “During the pandemic, we have been working hard to keep drivers and operators safe with a range of products. This includes remote downloading, apps to remove the need for paper and e-signature to sign off documents and remove possible transmission of face-to-face meetings.”
Both CheckedSafe and TruTac are accredited by DVSA’s Earned Recognition scheme. Operators can use their products to submit the required KPIs to DVSA to prove compliance and management records. This means its vehicles are less likely to be stopped by DVSA enforcement officers.
Protect people and assets
Passenger comfort and public safety go hand in hand, so it’s no surprise that security remains a top priority for operators. CCTV is one way to ensure the safety of passengers, staff and other road users. Video surveillance also protects operators against fraudulent claims and can aid incident investigations.
Timspace Technology is one of the UK’s leaders in digital video recorders (DVRs). The firm has developed and manufactured DVRs since 1997, and its products have a reputation for reliability and ease of use, says Head of Communications Karen Heylen.
“Timespace DVRs record audio and high-quality images, ensuring the critical details of incidents are captured,” she continues. “Fast access to the recorded footage via Timespace’s LANLink means evidence can quickly be reviewed and shared with the police.”
Most recently, Timespace has launched the V600 digital video recorder – the first of its DVRs to support the latest AHD cameras.
With “plug and play” installation, AHD cameras are simple to install, explains Karen. They also provide low-latency HD images of a quality previously only obtainable with IP cameras. The full-HD V600 builds on the Timespace V400’s reputation for reliability and provides operators with the flexibility of camera choice.
Karen adds: “We have also released an update to our LANLink fleet management platform. LANLink provides CCTV health overview for early identification of problems, along with secure video management, GPS vehicle tracking and CAN engineering data.”
Timespace DVRs are suitable for all types and sizes of vehicles. With DVRs offering from four-24 channels of video and a choice of AHD, PAL or IP cameras, operators can choose Timespace CCTV equipment to suit their needs.
