Meet the Brand: Navaho Technologies
We catch up with Lori Foster from Navaho Technologies to find out more about their brand and exhibiting at Euro Bus Expo, on stand 349
Tell us a bit about your company?
Navaho has developed connected digital solutions for over 25 years, serving some of the most famous global transport networks. Navaho transport systems offer smarter in-depot, on-road & on-bus information solutions. Providing digital displays, destination blinds, passenger information systems, on-vehicle hubs & online CMS, Navaho offers complete on-bus information solutions.
Tell us about your latest product(s), service(s), promotions or launches visitors can hope to see on your stand?
Navaho Technologies presents the On-Board Hub (OBH). This provides one system powered by Navaho's proven OVC platform, a secure environment built to run multiple on-vehicle applications including AVL, CCTV, safety cameras, passenger information, passenger counting, ticketing, telematics and a gateway for internet access.
With innovative features making technology from multiple suppliers easier to deploy and support, the hub provides operational savings and simplifies technology on-board, creating a uniquely integrated passenger experience. The hub is monitored 24/7, integrates seamlessly with third party providers and back-end services.
Why is exhibiting at Euro Bus Expo 2024 an unmissable opportunity for you?
The Navaho team can't wait to get on stand and demonstrate on on-board innovations and product solutions - come and meet the new Navaho On-Board Hub and check out our unique passenger Information system.
Meet the Brand: Metric Tristarinc
We catch up with Pratheek Chappanda from Metric Tristarinc to find out more about their brand and exhibiting at Euro Bus Expo, on stand 236
Tell us a bit about your company?
Metric Tristarinc is a leading provider of ticketing software and hardware solutions, specializing in the public transportation sector, with a strong focus on bus networks. Our innovative software covers a wide range of essential services, including ticketing solutions, real-time tracking, fleet management, and detailed reports for both passengers and drivers. This comprehensive system enhances operational efficiency and improves the overall passenger experience.
As part of the international Tri Star Group, Metric Tristarinc benefits from being part of a global network of specialists. Tri Star Group, headquartered in China, is renowned for its expertise in manufacturing advanced and innovative hardware. Other companies in the group, such as Krauth Technology in Germany, specialize in producing advanced ticketing and payment terminals, while Metric Group focuses on developing comprehensive solutions for parking and electric vehicle charging services. This collective expertise strengthens our ability to deliver innovative, reliable, and scalable solutions tailored to the public transport sector. Together, these companies contribute to a comprehensive portfolio of transportation services, including advancements in Mobility as a Service (MaaS). By leveraging the combined expertise of the entire group, we are able to offer elite solutions that enhance the integration of various transport modes, improving seamless travel experiences and operational efficiency.
Presently, Metric Tristarinc is expanding its services to offer onboard fleet management, including passenger counting devices and internal LED panels for displaying journey information. All of these systems will be connected using the ITxPT protocol, ensuring interoperability and streamlined communication across different systems, allowing for more efficient and integrated fleet operations.
With over a decade of experience and a commitment to innovation, we are dedicated to providing exceptional service and support to our clients, helping them meet the evolving demands of the public transportation industry.
Tell us about your latest product(s), service(s), promotions or launches visitors can hope to see on your stand?
We have included a significant upgrade in our integration with the ITxPT protocol. This upgrade enables seamless connectivity between all onboard ancillary devices, allowing for smoother and more efficient fleet management. The integration enhances interoperability, streamlining communication between systems like passenger counters, ticketing devices, and onboard displays, ultimately improving operational efficiency and passenger experiences.
We are also excited to showcase our new Vehicle Inspection Application, designed to digitize and streamline the inspection process. This application helps operators manage inspections, repairs, and maintenance directly from the back office, simplifying the entire workflow and reducing paperwork. By enabling real-time tracking of inspection statuses and maintenance schedules, operators can ensure vehicles are safe and in optimal condition, while reducing downtime. The inspection criteria follows the DVSA compliance and can be customized based on the client's requirements.
In addition, we've made significant upgrades to our back office system, introducing enhanced features for driver management. These upgrades include improved roster management, tracking driver performance, and optimizing daily operations based on KPIs. Our new dashboard provides operators and drivers with a clear overview of key metrics, helping them maintain and improve service quality while keeping operations aligned with set goals.
We invite visitors to explore these solutions first-hand and discover how our latest technologies can benefit their transportation networks.
Why is exhibiting at Euro Bus Expo 2024 an unmissable opportunity for you?
Metric Tristarinc has seen a strong growth of clients in Ireland, where operators use our services across both rural and urban destinations. As we focus on our new target of expanding our offerings through various new integrations, we as a group believe that Euro Bus Expo 2024 provides the ideal platform to showcase our brand with our latest innovations to a wider audience across the UK and Europe.
Our participation highlights the collective expertise of the Tri Star Group, including our partners Krauth Technology, known for advanced hardware and software ticketing solutions, and Metric Group - specialists in parking and electric vehicle charging systems. Together, along with the leadership of Tri Star Inc. (TSI) in manufacturing and technology, we will focus on Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) as our theme in this exhibition, with an emphasis on pleasant and efficient transit experiences that benefit both operators and passengers.
The exhibition offers us a unique opportunity to engage with bus and coach professionals - to understand their challenges and learn from their success stories. This exchange of insights will be invaluable as we aim to refine our solutions and address the evolving needs of the industry. We look forward to connecting with industry leaders, operators and potential partners and showcasing how our comprehensive portfolio can enhance fleet management, ticketing, transit and integrated services.
The Future of Coach Tourism: A Conversation with Mike Newman
Mike Newman, founder and Managing Director of b2me Tourism Marketing, has been at the forefront of travel trade engagement for over two decades. He is an expert in travel industry engagement and has worked with destinations across the UK on strategy and development of travel trade readiness. With a background that includes eight years as Marketing and Communications Manager for the Group Travel Organisers Association, Mike has deep roots in the domestic coach market and currently working across regions including the North East of England, the Cotswolds and with Birmingham City Council to support international and domestic travel trade engagement.
This year, Mike will join the ‘The Future of Coach - Are We There Yet?’ panel at the CPT Operator's Forum on Day 2 Euro Bus Expo, alongside Graham Vidler, CEO of Confederation of Passenger Transport, Andrew Luckett, Director at BluMarbl, and Duncan Aspinall, Director at Holmeswood Coaches.
With new research underscoring the economic impact of the coach industry and a steady shift in perceptions about its broader societal contributions, this panel session will provide a forward-looking view of the coach market. The session will cover topics such as city-wide coach strategies, sustainability initiatives, advancing vehicle technology, and the life of a coach operator, promising an insightful exploration of the road ahead. For his panel contribution, Mike will highlight the increasing importance of coaches to destinations, emphasise the sustainability benefits they bring, and discuss how cities and locations are re-evaluating their engagement with coaches.
We caught up with Mike ahead of his session to hear his thoughts on the future of coach tourism and his advice for operators looking to strengthen their role in the tourism landscape.
Can you tell us more about your business and what it does?
"b2me is a leading provider of travel trade engagement training and strategy for destinations, experiences and the accommodation sector across the UK."
What are the most rewarding and challenging aspects of your job?
"For many clients already benefiting from success in the tourism economy, the challenge to improve figures year on year can be a huge challenge for them. Moving the dial in these cases is difficult and so the biggest reward for me is to support them in finding new ways to develop business or develop new approaches to existing methodologies."
What's your key takeaway of the year (so far)?
"Markets and audiences may shift but quality of delivery remains exactly the same."
What are you most looking forward to at Euro Bus Expo?
"I’m looking forward to meeting coach operators and gaining a deeper understanding of their perspectives. As an industry, tourism is probably the most inclusive of its kind. For the coach and bus industry, Euro Bus Expo is a great opportunity to be at an event made up exclusively of your peers; learning, inspiring and socialising with each other."
What can visitors expect to learn or experience from your session?
"Not all destinations are created equal. There is a disconnect between aspects run by councils such as parking, waiting, signage and facilities and tourism wants and needs. Whilst this is being worked on, it is a process and the conversation needs to step up so that both sides are heard and issues are looked at as no longer being insurmountable."
What advice would you give operators to stay competitive in today’s market?
"Experience is everything for audiences, and coaches - particularly smaller vehicles, can gain unprecedented access to more and more aspects of our diverse tourism eco system. Review products in consultation with destination marketing teams. Sustainability is top of mind across the board and coaches are environmentally so much more friendly than individual car journeys. If you are considering investing in electric vehicles, contact the destinations and see where commercial charging points are being planned. Work together."
What is the biggest challenge you see facing coach tourism today, and how can operators best address it?
"I would suggest it is appealing to younger demographics and adapting itineraries to their wants and needs. Audience diversification is always tough as no one wants to alienate a core audience. I would suggest considering electification of smaller vehicles in fleets if possible and stay relevant through engagement with destinations and experience providers."
Looking ahead, what are the biggest opportunities for the industry?
“People looking for more sustainable ways to travel to more interesting places. It's a huge opportunity for the coach industry to adapt."
What advice would you give to operators looking to future-proof their businesses, given the changes you've seen in the industry?
“Electrification of vehicles and ensuring that websites have enough data content (not just text) on them to allow AI to find your business on search - it will be a total game changer."
Join Mike Newman and other industry experts at Euro Bus Expo’s CPT Operator Forum on Day 2 for an insightful discussion on the future of the coach industry. Don’t miss this chance to explore the latest strategies, sustainability initiatives, and opportunities that lie ahead. Register now.