From the 14th to the 16th of May, the IT-TRANS Exhibition 2024 took place as usual at Messe Karlsruhe. Every two years, this event gathers the latest innovations and developments in the public transportation industry.
With exhibitors from over 35 countries, this event provides an ideal opportunity for companies like Ximedes, based in The Netherlands, to expand their international relationships. Recently, Ximedes secured a significant deal with VRM and DB Regio to equip 2,000 buses with validators and our TapConnect software. This marks our next milestone in the German market, after successfully selling our white-label D-Ticket solution enabling different transport associations to issue the D-Ticket with a DeutschlandTicket app.
Not only Ximedes but also the public transport industry is experiencing significant developments. The team took the opportunity to gather insights about the latest industry happenings.
These are our top three takeaways from IT-Trans 2024:
1. Uncertainty in the revenue distribution of the Deutschland ticket One thing has once again become obvious: nobody is sure how in the future the distribution of revenue from the Deutschland ticket will be properly regulated. For those who have never heard of the so-called D-Ticket, it’s a subscription that allows you to travel throughout Germany for only 49€/month.
After implementing a solution model in 2022 where the seller of the ticket retained all revenue, a new approach was introduced in 2023. Under this new model, revenue is divided based on the buyer’s place of residence.
However, to facilitate fair and transparent distribution of revenue, it is necessary to understand exactly where and for which journeys the D-ticket is used. New regulations and innovations for revenue distribution of the D-ticket are expected in 2026 - We remain curious.
With the earlier mentioned 2,000 validators that Ximedes will provide to VRM and DB Regio, the transport association will be able to precisely capture travel data regarding the journeys taken with the D-Ticket. By equipping every bus with a validator, VRM and DB Regio are taking crucial steps towards ensuring that revenue is allocated fairly among regions, based on actual usage patterns.
If you want to learn more about how Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Mosel (VRM) and DB Regio have already taken a big step towards fair revenue distribution of the D-Ticket in the future, visit this blog: LINK BLOG
2. More cooperation between hardware and software-focused companies
Secondly, there is increasing collaboration between hardware and software companies. The integration of these two expertise is becoming increasingly important for the development of comprehensive solutions in the public transport industry.
As the demand for more bespoke and user-friendly systems increases, companies that only specialise in hardware or software are realising that they can achieve better results by working together.
For example, collaboration between ticketing hardware manufacturers and software developers is crucial for the development of advanced fare collection systems. These partnerships pave the way for innovations such as contactless payments, real-time passenger information and improved security features in the future.
3. The Rise of AI and Machine Learning in Public Transport
Another perhaps obvious but important takeaway from IT-Trans is the growing influence of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) on public transport.
As in many other industries, AI and ML technologies are increasingly being used to optimise various aspects of transport. This ranges from predictive maintenance and operational efficiency to personalised passenger services and dynamic pricing models.
One memorable innovation we encountered at the show was the AI-based voice-bot called "LUNA" developed by O.phon. The OpenAi-based service agent, "LUNA", offers a real relief of customer service for public transport networks. LUNA can handle a wide range of customer enquiries, update timetables, help with ticket purchases and even handle complaints. This not only improves operational efficiency but also ensures better customer service and availability. Try it yourself! You can talk to LUNA on the O.phone website.
Ultimately, IT-Trans 2024 has once again demonstrated the developments within the public transport industry, providing inspiration and insights. From the uncertainties surrounding the revenue distribution of the D-ticket to the critical importance of hardware-software collaboration, and the rise of AI and ML technologies.
Innovation at Ximedes
While those were our three main takeaways from IT Trans, Ximedes also showcased our innovations at our booth, featuring our GIVA and TapConnect products.
GIVA, built on ITxPT & VDV301 standards, offers a solution for data aggregation and centralised monitoring. The GIVA platform features our Vehicle Monitoring Application (VMA) service. VMA diligently gathers status updates from all vehicle components, whether software or hardware, and pairs this data with information like location, trip details, and vehicle specifics. This data stream is seamlessly relayed to the Central Monitoring Application (CMA) backend server.
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TapConnect, our innovative API tailored for Issuing, ticketing, and inspections. When combined with our Validator, TapConnect ensures the precise validation of D-Tickets. The white-label D-Ticket solution is complete to serve your passengers a full-featured DeutschlandTicket app and backend right out of the box! TapConnect, allows passengers to effortlessly manage their fares through a user-friendly app.
We had the pleasure of welcoming a lot of people to our stand and are happy to say that IT-trans 2024 was a success. We remain curious to see how the public transportation industry will develop and are looking forward to the next IT-Trans in May 2026!
Do you want to learn more about our public transport solutions?
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