AMCON (July 17, 2017) Our world is becoming increasingly connected, yet it has still not been possible to unify and simplify key processes in mobility nationwide. The tariff landscape in Germany is extremely diverse and confusing for passengers because many providers use different systems. As an internationally active provider of fare management, passenger information, and communication systems for buses and trains, AMCON has been supporting transport companies for many years in making public transport more attractive and efficient. Darius Rauert, Managing Director of AMCON GmbH, provides insight into the challenges public transport will face in the coming years.
How will public transport work in 2030?
By 2030, time will become even more central. Customers will no longer want to deal with complicated tariff interfaces but instead want to receive the information and tickets they need as automatically as possible, without any effort on their part. Topics like mobile tickets and passenger information apps will no longer be seen as innovative but will have long been established.
What are the obstacles to implementing a unified eTicketing system in Germany?
A nationwide unified eTicketing system is an ambitious goal. Currently, numerous eTicket projects are being implemented in Germany to move closer to this objective. However, one must be realistic: public transport in Germany involves many stakeholders with different interests that need to be reconciled. Therefore, the overall goal can only be achieved by meeting many small milestones. It is a rewarding feeling to be part of this journey and to help make public transport in Germany future-proof for its users.
Transport Minister Alexander Dobrindt aims to make paper tickets for buses and trains obsolete in almost all German cities by 2019 through electronic chip cards or mobile tickets. How realistic is this?
The question is how one defines “obsolete paper tickets.” Today, you can already travel in many major cities using mobile or online tickets. If that is the standard, then the goal has long been achieved. However, if the aim is not just to make paper tickets unnecessary but to completely eliminate them, then more is required. Nowadays, especially among older generations, many people do not use smartphones or computers. The option to purchase tickets must still be available for this group, as well as for visitors and tourists. This poses a challenge to ensure that everyone has access to public transport. It remains to be seen how long this will actually take.
What innovative topics is AMCON currently focusing on?
AMCON is currently focused on putting the end customer at the center of all sales processes and real-time information. In public transport today, it is common to use different systems for various processes. AMCON aims to achieve much better networking of these individual components. The goal is to develop a CRM system that places the customer at its core and from which all sales channels and information systems are managed.