Optibus has partnered with consulting and information technology provider Hitouch to ‘revolutionise’ how public transport operators communicate service information to passengers. The collaboration aims to bring a new level of ease and speed in transforming data into sophisticated, state-of-the-art route displays, network maps, and timetables.
Designing passenger information systems is an art form, says Optibus, but not every transport operator has the time, experience, or budget to take all the different service data points and create information designs on par with Harry Beck’s iconic London Tube map or Lausanne’s innovative multimodal map. Part of the issue lies in the market, the partners believe, and today’s passenger communication tools are either outdated or manual and require a substantial amount of time and effort to handle, leading to slow processes which also limit operators’ agility in quickly updating information to reflect service changes.
Combining Optibus’ comprehensive platform with Hitouch’s ‘geo.zpheres’ visualisation solution, the partnership is aiming to simplify the workflow for converting service data into easy-to-understand information materials. “Transport operators of all backgrounds will gain the ability to seamlessly go from planning services to creating stunning passenger information displays in just a few clicks,” the companys say. “This automation will be a game-changer, saving users substantial time and effort, and enabling them to focus on delivering an exceptional and reliable passenger experience.”
CEO and co-founder of Optibus Amos Haggiag commented: “The passenger experience isn’t just about the ride. It’s also about how easily passengers can understand service information. Through this partnership with Hitouch, creating state-of-the-art beautiful passenger information displays becomes possible for all transport professionals at the click of a button. We are thrilled to join forces with Hitouch to revolutionise passenger communication and design.”
Oliver Westphal, CEO of Hitouch, added: “Creating an intelligent transportation system isn’t just about planning and operations. It’s also about passenger communication. Hitouch is excited to partner with Optibus to enable operators to design easy-to-understand passenger information systems with geo.zpheres in a highly automated way.”
Hitouch has experience in transportation projects worldwide, and has worked with organisations including the Société de transport de Montréal, Royal Commission for Riyadh City, Roads and Transport Authority of Dubai, Transport for London, Land Transport Authority of Singapore, and the Transport Authority of Zurich.
The Optibus-Hitouch partnership also supports Optibus’ mission to expand its offerings and become the most comprehensive, end-to-end software platform for all transport planning and operations needs, and reinforces the company’s move into passenger communication systems with its acquisition of passenger information systems provider Trillium in 2022.