SOFTWARE ENGINEERING TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURE

BUSINESS SOLUTION

MOVE INTO THE AGE OF MOBILITY WITH US

BUSINESS SOLUTION

OUR SOLUTIONS AND SKILLS FOR THE PUBLIC TRANSPORT SECTOR The main purpose of public transport is to ensure the efficient and competitively priced mobility of people and goods. The gradual liberalisation of the market, growth in population, increasing production rates and the adoption of new technologies are challenges facing the transport industry.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS ARTICLE

Passengers want to be able to choose the degree of mobility for themselves from among the widest possible range of personalised services, via the channel that suits them best: ticket office, online channels, mobile device, etc.

›› Increase the efficiency of checks of SwissPass travel tickets.

The public transport industry is at a turning point in its existence: multinationals such as Apple, Google and Uber are keen to acquire parts of the transport market by providing platforms that are able to establish direct contact with the final users, thereby confining the long-standing players in the transport industry to the role of infrastructure supplier. These same players in the world of transport have understood that they must join forces to meet the needs of users and fight on an equal footing with the global platforms. The SwissPass ticket is a concrete example of this alliance, since it enables users to access transport services more easily and in a standardised way. Another example is offering combined leisure and transport services, which opens up new perspectives, particularly in terms of cross-selling. In order to meet these challenges, it is vital to have reliable, innovative and economically viable IT solutions. ELCA has been operating in the transport industry for nearly 40 years. With us, you enjoy the benefits of Swiss-made technical expertise combined with an in-depth understanding of the transport industry.

›› M  odernise your IT sales system and anticipate the expectations of your users with the help of a multichannel sales strategy.

›› Enhance your product portfolio by offering combined leisure and travel ticketing. ›› Offer innovative transport services to your customers.

SOFTWARE ENGINEERING TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURE

MOVE INTO THE SWISSPASS ERA WITH YOUR NEW SALES AND CONTROL SYSTEMS Since the launch of the SwissPass project, we have been working passionately on innovative projects in this area. The new solutions resulting from these projects are paving the way to modern sales platforms and efficient control systems.

DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM FOR POINTS OF SALE (SWISSPASS) The sales system is an essential element for a public transport company. It enables the customer to access the service and the company to generate revenue. The sales system is the backbone that links the customer and the transport company via a monetary transaction. The sales system must be scalable, user-friendly and multichannel: evolutivity enables the public transport company to meet current requirements while anticipating the changes to come, brought about by new spending habits, legislative changes or the arrival of a new form of competition. User-friendliness is essential as it transforms a purchase into a pleasant experience, whether by means of sleek user interfaces or by offering the customer attractive deals. Finally, public transport companies have to offer their services via several types of distribution channels (point of sale, Web, mobile device). Presented with this multiple offering, the customer can even combine several channels in the course of the same purchase process.

CASE STUDY: DESIGN OF A SWISSPASSREADY DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM FOR POINTS OF SALE In 2015, our actor, one of the largest public transport systems in French-speaking Switzerland, decided to launch an ambitious and innovative project for its sales system. In addition to the sale of SwissPass transport season tickets, the project consists of replacing the client’s electronic point of sale (EPOS) distribution terminals, providing a solution for selling tickets and travel cards on the Internet (Web shop), developing a standardised sales system, which can be adopted in due course by all distribution channels, and finally offering partner companies the possibility of using the new system. The solution features the following functionalities: ›› The sales system centralises all the sales logic and is connected to all the sales terminals via standardised interfaces. It is connected in particular to the ERP, the CRM and the public transport (ZPS) platform, which contains all the pricing logic necessary for the sale of Swiss transport tickets. Communication between the sales system and the ZPS platform is implemented via the NOVA interface. ›› The distribution terminals are fitted in ticket offices and kiosks (alternative points of sale). ›› The Cockpit enables all the stakeholders in the system that do not make sales to follow and interact with the current processes.

In the course of our projects for well-known clients, we have acquired extensive experience in the design and implementation of sales systems for the transport industry. We are experts in business interfaces (CRM, ERP, DMS, etc.) and in using the public transport platform (NOVA).

BUSINESS SOLUTION

CONTROL SYSTEM (SWISSPASS) The objective of the control system is to ensure that the passengers pay their dues and to prevent fraud. The impact of ticket checks on passengers must be as low as possible, in order to minimise checking time per passenger and allow inspectors to visit the greatest number of passengers possible when carrying out ticket checks. The control team managers must also be able to follow the progress of ticket checks using cockpit-style tracking tools. The introduction of the SwissPass ticket has led to a transitional period during which not all transport companies are yet able to check these new travel tickets. Each company must therefore think about its strategy as regards its control system: whether to modernise existing solutions to make them compatible with SwissPass or to completely redesign those solutions.

ELCA’s IT experts and architects will help you to analyse your current control system in order to identify the best strategy to make it SwissPass-ready.

CASE STUDY: REDESIGN OF A SWISSPASS CONTROL SYSTEM Our client is a major player in the public transport sector in French-speaking Switzerland. In order to be able to check SwissPass travel tickets once they are put into service, our client decided to carry out a pioneering project. This project is also in line with the approach of standardising control and reporting practices. The project to redesign the control system aims to implement a control system that allows inspectors to check SwissPass tickets, tickets issued via SMS and tickets issued by different fare alliances. The ticket inspectors must also be able to create and print reports and collect surcharges and/or transport payments, while the amount of time spent with the offending purchaser should be minimised. The main component of the control system is a mobile application available to inspectors while travelling. This mobile application is designed to permit very rapid access to the report input screen. The following up of reports and administration of the inspectors’ activities is carried out in a tracking application specifically developed as part of this project, allowing a high level of performance and availability. The solution proposed by ELCA is particularly extensible as it can be kept up to date with the latest versions of third-party control applications, while allowing any new travel tickets to be added. The user interface, which is specifically designed for checking and tracking travel tickets, enables our client to offer an efficient, rapid and user-friendly service to its inspection staff.

SOFTWARE ENGINEERING TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURE

SUPPLEMENT YOUR TRAVEL SERVICE BY ADDING LEISURE ACTIVITIES Combined leisure and transport ticketing – added value for your customers The strong market trend for combining highly efficient transport services with leisure activities is perfectly in tune with the topic of mobility. This type of offer is aimed at many customer categories: urban transport companies will target customers looking for leisure activities in the local area (museums, sporting or musical events, etc.), while regional transport companies will be able to offer their customers access to services for tourist locations further afield, as well as travel tickets combined with offers for ski passes, bicycle rides or water parks. Several services of this kind exist on the market, but they lack flexibility as they do not allow the combined price for transport and leisure services to be calculated in real time. Yet this lack of personalisation of the service is prohibitive for customers who, on the contrary, wish to benefit from a tailored offer which is perfectly adapted to their profile and also takes into account the distance to be covered to the leisure activity destination. With the SecuTix 360° solution, you enjoy total independence to manage the service that you wish to place at your customers’ disposal. You configure the products, set the prices for them and put the products up for sale via online and mobile channels using the SecuTix 360° administration tool. As a ticketing specialist, SecuTix, a subsidiary of the ELCA Group, offers an online sales solution for personalised travel tickets which merges leisure services flexibly and dynamically.

CASE STUDY: COMBINED LEISURE AND TRANSPORT TICKETING – SOFTWARE AS A SERVICE Our client SBB RailAway offers a large range of leisure activities throughout Switzerland: day trips, trade fairs and exhibitions, museums, sport and culture. The service is available via the two main travel portals www.sbb.ch/en/leisure-holidays/day-trips/ ideas-for-your-freetime and www.myswitzerland.com. Thanks to the SecuTix 360° solution, SBB RailAway rounds off its personalised service to meet the needs of its customers. Customers can find inspiration at www.sbb.ch/en/ leisure-holidays/day-trips/ideas-for-yourfreetime, then arrange their excursions directly on the SecuTix 360° site and print their tickets with or without train tickets from home. The software-as-a-service solution is hosted and operated by SecuTix, which is the only system that allows combined travel and leisure tickets to be issued. The SecuTix 360° purchasing channel is completely compatible with the SBB site: the visual identity and all the visible elements are those of SBB.

With our solution for combined leisure and travel ticketing, you add a leisure dimension to your business portfolio. This will enable you to offer your customers a platform whose value-added services will reinforce your company’s innovative image.

BUSINESS SOLUTION

WE CONNECT YOU DIRECTLY TO YOUR CUSTOMERS Advice and solutions for traveller mobility There isn’t just one travel experience – there are many. Preparing the route, choosing the mode of transport, purchasing a ticket, following an itinerary, asking for directions, changing destination, catching a connection and arriving at the destination are among the highlights of a journey, in which you can become actively involved. It’s no longer a means of transport that’s on offer, but a travel experience, which needs to be perfectly adapted to the constraints set by your customers, your competitors, your own network’s circumstances and your infrastructure. With this in mind, we will help you to become a transport facilitator thanks to our expertise in service design (SD) and user experience (UX). Using observations and interviews, we will help you to carry out an audit that will highlight the strengths and weaknesses of your service offering, as well as the concerns and expectations of your customers. Finally, we will guide you through the process of implementing the innovative services and interfaces, geared to the world of transport, in order to facilitate the task of your customers as well as that of your employees.

Mapping of a public transport experience (source: Adaptive Path)

Our UX experts are at the cutting edge of trends in the digital world. They offer concepts that are perfectly adapted to the needs of your users – whether your customers or your employees – while remaining within your strategic vision and the framework of your project. Taking a proactive approach, they facilitate dialogue between business, communication, marketing and IT.

CASE STUDY: ALL-IN-ONE MOBILE APPLICATION FOR IDTGV Our client iDTGV is a subsidiary of SNCF Group, formed in 2004. iDTGV’s tickets are marketed exclusively via the Internet. On behalf of iDTGV, ELCA has implemented an Android smartphone application that responds to the desire to enhance the services offered by on-board personnel, while still carrying out the essential function of checking tickets. As well as for scanning travel tickets, it can be used for accessing the passenger’s data, reporting material defects, accessing information about the line, displaying a carriage plan, accepting payments (by bank card and in cash) and printing invoices and travel tickets.

“The future of smart travel is the intersection of technology, utility data and experience.” Chris Nurko

SOFTWARE ENGINEERING TRANSPORT ET INFRASTRUCTURE

ELCA’S TRANSPORTATION BUSINESS LINE

YOUR CONTACTS

Retus Müller Head of Business Line Transportation

The transport sector has been one of ELCA’s key markets for a number of years, and our Transportation business line is responsible for all company projects concerning the topic of transport, particularly public transport, traffic, logistics, the relevant players in the manufacturing industry and the regulatory authorities and associations involved.

[email protected]

This allows us to gain a greater understanding of the transport network as a whole, in order to provide our clients with optimised support in the face of the upcoming challenges in the mobility sector.

Fabien Guillaume Head of Division Public Transport

Shifts in society and changes in the area of private transport, carsharing schemes, the increasing concentration of housing developments, environmental awareness, digitalisation of workspaces and many more factors all have an effect on the demand for mobility. The concept of mobility itself is becoming more complex in terms of time, space and organisation, and is moving towards mobility on demand. Advances in technology will also have an impact on the overall transport network, with traffic becoming increasingly automated and intermodal. All of this requires new solutions in terms of IT, such as open sales and control systems to manage supply and demand.

[email protected]

Stefan Käser Head of Division Roads [email protected]

We have organised our value propositions based on these requirements:

 SwissPass solutions  Nova integration  Mobile/Web/POS/SPOS  e-ticketing  Yield management  Digital marketing  CRM & 360°

Sales and marketing

Planning and operations

Asset management

Digital transformation

Regulators and unions

Manufacturer and technology

Roads and traffic

Transport and logistics Public transport

 Timetables  Resource planning  Traffic management  Road security  Track management  GIS  Predictive maintenance  Advanced analytics  IoT (Internet of Things)  Big Data  Machine learning  Drone-supported analytics  Custom business solutions  Omnichannel information systems  Legacy migration  Software factory  Hybrid integration

SOLUTION ENTREPRISE

Sales and marketing: Over the years, ELCA has successfully realised a wide range of sales and marketing platforms for a number of different clients, including SBB, TPG, RhB and MGB. Today, the Group has in-depth expertise in implementing back-end sales systems, including integration into the NOVA platform, and has broad experience, for instance, of POS systems, Web and mobile front-end applications for consumers, SwissPass solutions, DAX2, software for ticket vending machines, precise seating reservation systems with yield management and packages offering a combination of solutions.

ELCA Informatique SA Lausanne 021 613 21 11 Genève 022 307 15 11 ELCA Informatik AG Zürich 044 456 32 11 Bern 031 556 63 11 www.elca.ch

Planning and operations: For years, we have been realising a wide range of systems in the area of planning and operations, for example in scheduling rolling stock for SBB and managing motorway traffic for the FEDRO. In this particular sector, which is highly dependent on operational processes and real-time data, non-functional aspects such as safety, fail-safe mechanisms and performance are particularly important.

Digital transformation: ELCA’s entire range of services is geared towards digitalisation – particularly our omnichannel reference architecture 2020 and the software factory, which provides our clients with the technical basis they need to implement a two-speed IT system. We have been investing in this area for a number of years, and have been applying these concepts and introducing these building blocks to our projects since 2015.

ABOUT ELCA ELCA is one of the biggest independent Swiss full-service providers for business and technology solutions, and a leader in the fields of IT business consulting, software development and maintenance, and IT systems integration. The privately owned company, with more than 750 experts, has branches in Lausanne, Geneva, Berne, Zurich, Paris, Madrid and Ho Chi Minh City (offshore development), all operating according to a common process framework.

Q8/2016

Asset management: Physical assets make up a large part of the transport sector, and these assets are equipped with a number of sensors. This presents us with new possibilities to resolve technical issues by utilising data which has already been collected. Over the last few years, we have invested in expanding our expertise in advanced analytics, the Internet of Things (IoT) and big data technologies. Working together with SBB infrastructure specialists, for example, we have been able to demonstrate ways in which track upkeep and maintenance can be optimised. Early detection allows operators to achieve optimum results, not only in terms of how a component is used, but also, in particular, by refining measures such as grinding and filling in such a way as to extend a component’s overall life cycle.