First Bus selects Future Platforms to develop new customer-first mobile offering

Attempting to improve the overall passenger experience, and in line with its ongoing commitment to digitalisation, First Bus has selected Future Platforms to develop and evolve the mobile experience for its customers.

The mobile offering will assist in gaining crucial insight about its customers and will help to deliver evolved and smarter mobile services. This programme of work is anticipated to not only streamline operational efficiencies but also drive an uptake in usage and loyalty.

“Our work with First Bus is cemented in a mutual commitment to creating a better travel experience for passengers,” said Future Platforms’ Managing Director, Adam Croxen. “With improved support and easier ticket purchasing options, passengers will benefit from a highly effective mobile solution which has been built with their first-to last-mile needs in mind.”

Next generation vehicles, smart mobility services and intelligent solutions are all disrupting the transportation landscape, and in this technology-led world, operators need to push their digital offerings if they are to stay relevant.

Technology innovations have brought real time planning, current network status checks, route finders and competitive pricing to travellers. According to Statista, the number of mobile phone users is expected to surpass the 5 billion mark by 2019, therefore passengers have more choice than ever, accessible at their fingertips. Transport operators are consequently looking to adapt their business models to offer a transformed experience across the payment, information, automation and integration landscapes.

Taking this into account, along with an increasing need to establish a complete end-to-end passenger experience, Future Platforms will work with First Bus to develop a valuable and effective mobile experience that is relevant in today’s information-everywhere world and can deliver a seamless journey for the passenger, from the first to the last mile.

James Timperley, Director of Retail Development at First Bus, said: “At First Bus we are committed to investing in new technology and we’re pleased to be working alongside Future Platforms as part of our ongoing commitment to develop and improve our customer-facing apps. The use of our mTickets app is exceeding expectations and continues to grow daily so we are looking to evolve this app, with Future Platforms, as part of our ongoing commitment to make bus travel a convenient, simple and attractive experience for our customers.”