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Case Study

How First Bus uses technology to improve efficiency and services

Optibus spoke to George Burton, Network Performance Manager at First Bus, about his job and the role technology plays in helping his team work smart and plan efficient services.

Wednesday, December 07, 2022

Overview

Artificial intelligence. Augmented reality. Cloud computing. Technology has advanced rapidly in recent years. Almost every day, we hear how these new technologies are being applied to drive innovation: Software that generates beautiful pictures from simple text descriptions. Apps that write catchy songs or entire articles. Cars that drive autonomously. 

These advanced and powerful technologies have benefitted many industries. But they have not been made accessible and applicable to the public transportation industry at the same pace – a challenge that Optibus is working to resolve.

Optibus spoke to George Burton, Network Performance Manager at First Bus UK, about his job and the role technology plays in helping his team work smart and plan efficient services. 

Improving driver duties, services, and operational efficiency

“The Optibus algorithm has opened up far more possibilities for [driver] duties than we were used to before,” said George. “Previously we would optimize things team by team whereas Optibus has allowed us to consider all these things simultaneously and get the best result for each team rather than the best result for one team. Which, in effect, has allowed us to deliver more efficient duties, and duties that are better for the driver with marginal impact on costs.”

The ability to experiment with different driver terms and conditions using the software has also enabled George and his team to make data-driven decisions that improve the operation’s efficiency and the passenger experience.

“What I like about Optibus is that they’re more than just a service provider, they’re a partner in our vision and strategy to improve services for customers,” said George.

First Bus recently completed the roll out of Optibus’ software across all of their UK operating companies. The move means that First Bus schedulers and planners, like George, now have access to advanced technologies that can support scheduling for First Bus’ 4,000 vehicles, improve services for more than 1 million daily passengers, and make work processes smoother and faster for the workforce.

BY ORGANIZATION

Agencies

Optimize networks, enhance efficiency, and improve passenger communication

Operators

Maximize fleet use, manage mixed fleets, and reduce costs without sacrificing quality

Consultancies

Support agencies and operators with strategic planning, tenders, and optimizations

Workforce Shuttles

Simplify shuttle planning and workforce management

BY USE CASE

Electrify Fleet

Transition to an eco-friendly fleet with EV planning, procurement and management

Win Tenders

Grow market presence and capacity; prepare, evaluate and execute strategic tenders 

Enhance Passenger Experience

Boost ridership and satisfaction with reliable service, clear updates, and efficient routes

Planning

Plan, analyze, and optimize your network with powerful route planning tools.

Scheduling

Streamline scheduling with advanced tools to maximize vehicle and duty allocations efficiently.

Rostering

Create refined rosters to balance workloads, enhance driver satisfaction and boost retention.

Operations

Oversee your real-world operation with real-time allocation, payroll integration, and the Driver App. 

Passenger Information

Deliver accurate service updates and plans to enhance passenger communication.