Transport on demand – are we there yet?

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Mobility as a service (MaaS) on-demand is the future of our society, and transport is no different.

As cities and countries around the globe face an onslaught of new challenges such as urban sprawl, safety and security, traffic congestion, and transportation accessibility, it is becoming increasingly important for public sector leaders to provide smart solutions.  As leaders further embrace the smart city narrative, the main question remains – how will these digital technology solutions help their citizens and communities?

Mobility-as-a-Service has the potential to completely transform the journeys we all take in our daily lives. No matter peoples’ income, lifestyle or location, it could allow fast, efficient, affordable travel that’s available exactly when they need it.  Offering consumers a more convenient way to travel and pay for that service is the future that the public will and in some cases, are already demanding.

Operators need to understand how technology such as IoT with face-recognition, NFC and Wi-Fi can be integrated, and platforms built to support applications that deliver ease of travel and account based pricing. With sensors in any device, operators can then regulate their systems and anticipate faults to help reduce delays, improve service and deliver the best possible customer experience.

Transportation is the life blood of any city. An efficient, safe and secure network is critical to support our increasingly mobile population, and one that puts the consumer at the forefront will improve ‘livability’ and productivity for all.

Motivations for adopting smart city initiatives vary, but one primary reason that has emerged is the desire to enhance ‘livability’, which plays an important role in how we operate in Ireland today.  With our ongoing housing-crisis, job competition and rapid urbanisation putting enormous stress on resources and infrastructure, it’s important that operators adopt new approaches to embrace innovative solutions and smart technologies to not just manage problems but to enhance sustainability, competitiveness and as mentioned, livability.

Improving livability can be seen both as a strategic asset that contributes to growth, and as a key ingredient to happier, healthier citizens. And when push comes to shove, technology is an enabler, not the end game. Putting people at the forefront is key.

At Fujitsu we strive to assist cities globally to become as smart as possible and to use new technologies for the greater good. In Ireland, to enhance livability and transportation in and out of our cities we need to work out what makes a great travel experience and learn how to deliver that experience using existing infrastructure augmented by innovative digital technology.

Passengers today want a seamless travelling experience that enables them to make the most of their digital tools. At Fujitsu we believe that transport operators must digitally transform and implement technology to make passengers the ticket.

The future, as I see it, is Mobility-as-a-Service. Those that will truly disrupt and make a difference for the sector are those that manage to fulfil the demand we all have for a joined up travel experience. You can talk about driverless taxis and totally automated ticketing all you want, but the big change in the future will be the total experience.

Discover more about Fujitsu’s offerings for the Transportation industry on their website.