Case Studies
BEACON TRIAL
Bluetooth Beacons
UrbanThings will be bringing ‘Check-In Be-Out’ Bluetooth beacon technology to smart-ticketing in Brighton and Hove.
UrbanThings has partnered with Brighton & Hove Buses, and Ticketer to perform the UK’s first CiBo trial integrated with a ticket machine.
After winning at The Billion Journey Project, UrbanThings was offered the chance to continue working with Go-Ahead by trialing our innovative Bluetooth beacon technology.
The trial aims to improve upon Brighton & Hove Buses’ current system.
Passengers will be able to check-in via m-Ticket using the existing on-board ETMs, but they will be automatically checked out once they have left the vehicle. This will allow us to explore innovative new fare schemes, for example ‘Pay As You Go’ travel where passengers only pay for the transport that they’ve actually used.
The trial will take place in March 2019, across 2 busy bus lines in the local area and incorporate approximately 50 vehicles.
“The days of ticketing - like cash - are numbered, so as we implement current best practice in payment for public transport, we have an eye to where that needs to go to in the future. Working with Urban Things through the Billion Journey Project has shone a light on some new possibilities. As we continue to explore this space, piloting some new approaches with them will help us along our journey just as the Billion Journey accelerator programme is assisting theirs. We are looking forward to getting into the pilot in Spring 2019 and extending the art of the possible in bus payment systems.”
Martin HarrisCEO, Brighton & Hove Buses 
Ticketless
SVDsmart
UrbanThings partnered with Stadtverkehr Detmold and IVU Traffic Technologies to bring Ticketless to Germany
The SVDsmart app launched in November 2018 and is available for iOS and Android
We worked with IVU Traffic Technologies and StadtVerkehr Detmold to build the new SVDsmart app and back office as a replacement for the existing app and ticketing scheme.
Deliverables:
- A branded app for real time information and mobile ticketing
- Easy-to-use web portal to manage riders and tickets
- QR codes for on vehicle validation
- Tight integration with IVU.suite
- Live operational data to improve route profitability.
“The Ticketless app has proven to be a very attractive product for city traffic Detmold and is very well suited to offer a simple ticketing on a mobile phone. The app was quickly introduced thanks to the professional and dedicated project management of UrbanThings and IVU.
With the planned expansion, the app will quickly become the central component of the digital sales strategy of the city of Detmold”
Ticketless
SevernNet buzz
UrbanThings partnered with Esoterix and SevernNet to bring Ticketless to passengers in Avonmouth
The SevernNet buzz app launched in Q2 2018 and is available for iOS and Android
We worked with Esoterix to build the SevernNet buzz app and accompanying back-end system as a replacement for their existing smartcard scheme.
Deliverables:
- App integration with Hex Tags for right-to-travel validation
- Provision and setup of Hex Tags for vehicle identification
- Onboarding and training for drivers, inspectors and other staff
- Bespoke passenger events server system
"UrbanThings is a continually forward thinking organisation, pushing ideas and boundaries all the time."
m-ticketing
ZipTrip
Ticketer selected UrbanThings as their partner to deliver a high quality m-Ticketing solution
ZipTrip was delivered on schedule in Q2 2017 and now serves customers throughout the United Kingdom
UrbanThings worked with Ticketer to develop and publish ZipTrip, a bespoke mobile app built on top of our tried-and-tested core code. Additional features include:
- Support for in-app ticket purchase and 2D barcode ticketing.
- Multi-tenancy store allowing individual bus operators to showcase their products.
- Integration with card and web payment services.
- User account hosting for integration with in-house CRM systems.
- Purpose-built customer facing web portal for account management.
“We sought UrbanThings as our mobile partner because of their demonstrably strong track record in building robust and feature-rich apps.
We look forward to working closely with them to realise our vision for the future of public transport.”
