Optibus

Viação Alvorada, a major public transportation operator in Lisbon, Portugal, recently won a significant tender from the Metropolitan Area of Lisbon (AML) to manage 33% of the city's bus transportation. This massive operation required efficient planning, scheduling, and rostering of optimal operating scenarios. However, the company faced challenges in managing such a large-scale operation. They were limited by preset preferences and could only implement less than 100 rules, which hindered their flexibility and created a significant amount of manual work. Every duty had to be understood in its specific context, which was time-consuming and inefficient. Additionally, with the Lisbon tender, Viação Alvorada faced increased pressure to be on-time and compliant. They needed an advanced software that ensures no regulations slip through the cracks and that protects them from substantial fines for violations.

The University of Cape Town (UCT) Shuttle, a private bus service providing transportation to 29,000 students and 5,000 staff members, was struggling with manual planning and scheduling processes. The shuttle service, which operates 19 routes with a fleet of 27 buses and 60 drivers, was essential for the university community to commute between the campus and greater Cape Town. However, the manual processes were tedious, time-consuming, and prone to human error. The UCT Shuttle team, despite their expertise in traditional manual processes, lacked experience in digital planning and scheduling systems. They sought a digital, automated solution to streamline their operations and improve efficiency.

Via Ouro, an urban transportation operator in Nova Lima, Minas Gerais, Brazil, was grappling with the challenges of manual planning and scheduling of their bus routes. The company was struggling with heavy traffic and congestion in the region, and the unpredictability of daily operations. The situation was further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to a 70% drop in ridership across most public transportation providers. The company was also dealing with the issue of fleet optimization, with many buses idling unused at stops and terminals. The need for a solution that could help them optimize their resource usage and reallocate buses to reduce idleness was evident.

The Western Reserve Transit Authority (WRTA), a public transportation agency in the greater Youngstown, Ohio area, was grappling with a significant driver shortage. This led to large-scale service cancellations, delays, and increased pressure on drivers, agencies, and operators. The agency, which operates thirty bus routes and serves over one million annual passengers, was struggling to maintain its services. The situation was further complicated by the fact that a significant portion of their ridership, 48% use WRTA to commute to their jobs and 69% do not own cars. The challenge was to manage the driver shortage without compromising the quality of service, while also optimizing their budget and improving the quality of drivers' work shifts.