Overview and User Background: Meet Stefano Frau and FNM Autoservizi
As one of the planners/schedulers at FNM Autoservizi (FNMA), Stefano Frau is part of a dedicated team that manages route planning, schedule optimization, fleet deployment, and driver coordination to ensure reliable urban and suburban transportation services across Varese, Como, and Brescia in northern Italy. Operating 900 daily trips, FNMA plays a crucial role in connecting thousands of passengers every day.
Stefano’s responsibilities are broad and complex, spanning route scheduling, payroll management, and emergency response. But outdated systems made these tasks increasingly challenging for his team. Using Optibus, his team is now working faster and more efficiently, resulting in better services for drivers and passengers.
The Challenge: Scheduling and Payroll Processes
Fragmented and inefficient tools were preventing FNMA from keeping up with modern demands, resulting in:
- Scheduling bottlenecks: Manual processes delayed scheduling updates and introduced errors, reducing operational agility.
- Payroll challenges: Disconnected systems created payroll inaccuracies and delays and limited drivers’ access to timely, accurate information, leading to frustrated workers.
- Slow emergency response: Reacting to unexpected disruptions, like landslides, took up to five hours, jeopardizing service reliability and safety.
“Managing day-to-day operations was becoming unsustainable,” Stefano shares.
Solution & Impact: Operational Speed and Accuracy
To overcome these challenges, FNMA turned to Optibus for a centralized, cloud-native platform that would unify all their work processes and improve their operations.
The implementation of two core modules — Planning and Scheduling — was completed in just four months, even with a summer break. FNMA is already seeing positive impact, including:
- Faster Emergency Response: With Optibus, FNMA reduced emergency response times from five hours to just two, which was invaluable during incidents like landslides. “This response time reduction has greatly improved our service reliability,” Stefano noted.
- Improved Payroll Accuracy: By integrating their payroll system with Optibus, FNMA minimized manual errors and streamlined data tracking, which increased transparency and accuracy.
- Increased Driver Engagement: The Optibus Driver App provided direct access to shift and payment details, improving driver confidence.
“Our drivers appreciate the transparency, and it has positively impacted their experience,” Stefano stated.
Conclusion
For Stefano and his team, Optibus has become an essential partner in modernizing FNMA’s operations. By significantly reducing emergency response times, streamlining payroll processes, and providing drivers with greater transparency and engagement, FNMA has improved daily operations and strengthened its ability to handle disruptions efficiently.
- 900 daily trips across Varese, Como, and Brescia in Italy
- Reduced emergency response time from 5 to 2 hours, improving service reliability during disruptions
- Achieved payroll accuracy by integrating systems, eliminating manual errors, and increasing transparency
- Enhanced driver satisfaction with real-time access to shift and payment detail
- Reduced work bottlenecks with streamlined scheduling and rostering processes
- Products: Planning, Scheduling, Rostering, Operations, Driver App
