Monapass – One App, One Account, for Open Ticket Mobility
Flowbird has developed a unique ‘open ticket’ mobile platform that delivers a ‘one-app, one-account’ environment for integrated multimodal transport, active travel and ID-based subscriptions and passes.
The Monapass app, developed by Flowbird for the Principality of Monaco, offers users access to ‘a mobility system in their pocket’ by enabling access to account-based ticketing, secure in-app m-tickets storage, combined ticketing for travel and entertainment (museums, cinemas, tours) and integrated journey planning with parking, public transport and active travel.
Flowbird’s ‘open ticket portfolio’ functionality makes it possible to import and manage third-party ID-based passes and subscriptions for transit and other services, such as e-bike hire.
“Monapass is the complete mobility companion in your pocket,” said Paul Rogers, Flowbird Sales & Marketing Director. “We are expanding the traditional scope of MaaS apps to connect an ever-wider range of services and subscriptions and make them available through a secure, single sign-on account in a mobile environment. There is no need to manage multiple ID-based accounts through separate apps and we have advanced our vision for MaaS gateway to include access to multiple services through a single account and payments are through the Flowbird payment service.”
The Principality of Monaco is committed to digital transformation through its ‘Extended Monaco’ programme. As part of this agenda, the city has worked with Flowbird to deploy Monapass as a new approach to mobility for residents, tourists, and commuters.
MaaS is key to Monaco’s environmental commitment to reduce light vehicle traffic by 20% by 2030. The mobile application makes it easier for people to use their cars less, adopt greener modes of travel and improve their overall quality of life.
To find out more about our One App, One Account, Open Ticket Mobility, visit Flowbird on Stand T84 at Euro Bus Expo. You can see how this can work for your organisation today!
TEK Seating supports driver comfort at Euro Bus Expo 2022
TEK SEATING is exhibiting its quality range of bus and coach seats on stand D90 at this years’ Euro Bus Expo 2022.
Established over 50 years, TEK is at the forefront of helping to protect drivers’ backs from the rigours of driving long hours. We offer a wide range of top quality, ergonomic, driver seats for most applications and budgets from leading manufacturers including Grammer, KAB Seating, Pilot and Isringhausen,
One of our most popular seats is the Grammer pneumatic suspension MSG 90.3 driver seat, which enables drivers to sit optimally. It comes with an anti-sinking mechanism, so regardless of the driver’s weight, the seat automatically returns to its original height setting.
With its air suspension system and automatic weight adjustment as standard, the Grammer ROADTIGER Standard seat (pictured) provides entry to the world of pneumatic suspension seats with maximum comfort. It features a fore/aft isolator, lumbar support, a finely adjustable backrest plus a seat tilt adjustment and adjustable seat cushion depth to ensure fatigue-free sitting. The ROADTIGER benefits from a high-performance air suspension with a high weight range of up to 190kg - ideal for drivers of different weights and heights.
Also from Grammer is the stylish Kingman - a quality comfort seat ideal for long distance driving and touring. The Kingman is an innovative, friction-optimized suspension system based on cutting-edge shock absorption and control technology.
The P1098/M80 seat from Pilot is a robust mechanical suspension seat activated by an integrated spring system. The seat incorporates numerous comfort features such as backrest recline and an adjustable lumbar support. The seat model can be supplied with or without 3-point seat belt. The front mounted controls are ideal for vehicles with limited access to either side of the seat position.
Where comfort and style are a must, there is the high spec NTS 2 seat from ISRI - an updated version of the original NTS seat. Key features include variable height adjustment with memory, backrest horizontal and shoulder adjustment, tilt and seat fore/aft adjustment, an integrated 3-point safety belt system and an integrated pneumatic system to ensure that the backrest fits the body’s contours.
Other popular choices include the KAB 414 and the KAB 714 driver seats which provide excellent support and comfort and are also available with an integral 3-point seat belt. Both seats offer a range of options so please ask a member of staff for advice.
The KAB T1 is an ideal medium back seat for a number of applications including buses. This seat comes with a 60mm height riser and slide rails as standard and can be supplied with several options.
Paul Fleming, TEK Group CEO, commented: ‘Euro Bus always gives us the chance to showcase our range of quality driver seats, as well as giving us the opportunity to network with our suppliers and customers.
‘Operators are understanding more about what they spend their money on. We’re seeing worn out seats replaced with higher quality versions as they realise the long-term health and safety benefits for their employees, and themselves.’
Meet the team from TEK Seating Ltd on stand D90
Nationwide staff shortages for garages and workshops
The recruitment and retention of mechanics is set to remain as a key challenge for garages and workshops in the following years, according to the Motor Ombudsman.
More than two thirds of garages and workshops, accredited by the Ombudsman for the automotive sector, said their biggest challenge was recruiting a sufficient number of mechanics.
To help tackle the perennial issue of HGV and PCV mechanics some companies have begun recruiting competent technical staff from outside the truck and bus world, and then training them up to standards.
The current shortage of skilled technicians in the heavy vehicle market is nothing new and increasing living costs are doing little to help the situation, with some businesses loath to take on additional apprentices in such an uncertain climate. Yet an ageing workforce continues to retire, leaving workshops with increasing demand for skilled staff.
The media is covering the shortage of vehicle technicians, HGV technicians, bus drivers but there is very little said about the shortage of bus technicians.
Liam Poyner, Director - Excel Resourcing said: "We work with the majority of bus operators across the UK. There's only a handful that don't require extra labour in the workshop. Most of them are reliant on temp labour whilst struggling to recruit due to the nationwide shortage. We're looking at a major shift in labour market: more and more experienced technicians are choosing to freelance taking full advantage of the increasing demand. It's a candidate driven market but there are huge concerns as the existing workforce is aging and there's not enough new blood coming into the industry to replace it. We have just over 250 technicians working with us and 80% of them are over the age of 45."
Craig Power, Sales Director, Excel Resourcing said: "The industry is changing. The demand for PSV technicians is at an all-time high as commercial vehicle workshops are chasing to keep up with the ever-growing number of PSVs, bus technology and passengers on the roads. Each technician has a preference over what type of vehicles they want to work on. The skills learnt as an HGV mechanic are easily transferable to buses. Working on PSVs comes with greater responsibility. Unlike HGVs, you are responsible for a larger group of people, with passengers ranging from young children to elderly and vulnerable individuals."
Many companies have seen a massive increase in temp labour usage (or contractors). Finding and training talent takes much longer than in previous years but the demand doesn't sit around and wait for that to happen. The buses need to get back on the road and this is why a lot of operators are partnering up with agencies to try and bridge the gap.
For more information on how this works and what are the benefits of using a temp labour provider, visit Excel Resourcing at Euro Bus Expo or click here.