17th week - Project closing

Last blogpost (From Traffic Management to Traffic Leadership)

As our semester is unfortunately over, we also have to close our work at Demola.

First of all, thanks for the opportunity I can say it was quite useful experience for all of us. Thanks for Ville’s facilitating, thanks for the support of Tero and Anni.

I think our job was quite hard, as the biggest problem was to find a good “touch” on the topic that is why it went very slowly.  We also have had missing team member due Sun’s trip. And of course we had university duty that made our schedule quite tight.

But let’s present the solution.

After the meeting with MobiSoft and Tampere Logistics, we had to realize, that the solution figured out already in the very beginning of the work could work…as there is a huge claim for it. And it could be very unique and supportive as there is no such an existing application. But what is this application? Basically nothing new…We have had travel planner applications, we have maps with real-time data…but…all the separately. Now we collect all of these, and built an application which contains all of them…in one hand. It is comfortable, isn’t it?

And what is the “added value”? In the beginning of the project, Ilkka ask his friend via facebook survey about their experiences linked to the public transport. It included all the necessary questions link to the price/travel time, comfort level, most annoying things…etc…you know…to increase the service level.

As we examined all the possibilities (even driver’s salary decreasing and working hours increasing), the technical background and information systems, it was clear, to “LEAN” it would be hard…and harmful.

But still the benefits of this application drive the companies to make their services smarter. How? Let’s see: the usage of the application will be recorded. So basically it is a survey about the passenger’s habits. Which lines are the most crowded and when, which are the less, which stop should be cancelled, or should be relocated based on the too much walking distances. It will drive the companies marginal service level increasing (due most comfortable and affordable transport). Increasing income->cost savings

What is the benefits for the “end-user”? The application (could be web and smart phone based) will be free or really cheap to download. It could be income for the developer. AAANNNDD: very comfortable for the user (everything via only one application), you can plan your trip accordingly (based on the requirements for: price, travel/walking time, walking distance, comfort level, privacy). You can bring it with you (with your smart phone) or check it before leaving (using your pc). Use the “follow me” option and check it during your journey if you are not sure about the direction.

Summarized we suppose, this solution could be very beneficial for both parties.

I attach some picture about the lay-out of this application produced by Ilkka. Sorry, we don’t have designer, so seems a little bit ugly…but it is a DEMO. J

You can find step-by-step instruction in our presentation slide.

Summarized the message of the project: we can’t give exact solution, which reduce the costs with 50%. We can give a supporting tool which will drive you more smart and effective services.