Messages from 2014 - AMCON Software GmbH

AMCON at InnoTrans 2014

verenadrees — Sun, 28 Sep 2014 11:13:25 +0000

InnoTrans is the international trade fair for transport technology, focusing on innovative components, vehicles, and systems. It takes place every two years in the capital city, Berlin. Since its founding in 1996, it has become an integral part of the Berlin trade fair landscape and, since 2000, has served as the leading trade fair for the public transport sector. As an industry platform, InnoTrans brings together national and international suppliers with buyers from the fields of local and regional public transport (ÖPNV and SPNV). An important part of InnoTrans is the InnoTrans Convention, featuring top expert panels and high-profile podium discussions.

AMCON showcased forward-looking solutions for bus and rail transport in the fields of fare management and passenger information at InnoTrans from September 23 to 26, 2014, in Berlin, Hall 2.1, booth 206. With its innovative and high-quality products, AMCON offers complete solutions for public and private transport companies. Numerous public transport companies rely on AMCON’s UFHO system because it not only strengthens revenue protection and increases customer satisfaction but also accelerates operational processes and, thanks to its intuitive operation, enjoys high acceptance among users.

UFHO is the device-independent sales, information, and control system for public transport and represents AMCON’s core product.

During the system’s development, the individual device requirements of customers were taken into account. The customer decides which mobile or stationary device (or a combination of both) suits their own needs and should be used for task processing.

AMCON also guarantees that UFHO allows a combination of devices from various model variants across generations. This makes it easy to integrate new or additional mobile or stationary devices at a later time. In cases of short-term increased workloads requiring more personnel, Android smartphones or tablets equipped with the UFHO application can be used additionally. The UFHO application fully utilizes the special features of an electronic ticket during inspections. The fare inspector can easily, quickly, and reliably determine whether a passenger holds a valid travel authorization. Inspectors who are not familiar with all the details of the tariff system are actively supported during the check. With just one click, an eTicket or online ticket (KA compliant) is checked for validity or switched to the next route section. Depending on the checked ticket, additional tariff information, e.g., passenger allowances, is displayed.

If no valid travel authorization is present, tickets for increased transport charges (EBEs) can be issued directly. If an EBE is triggered by an eTicket or online ticket, all information from the user medium, including all authorizations, is transmitted to the back-end system. Damage reports on buses or trains can also be recorded with the UFHO app and transmitted as a ticket to the back-end system for further processing.

Der Beitrag AMCON at InnoTrans 2014 erschien zuerst auf AMCON Software GmbH.

AMCON participates in the PIA competition

verenadrees — Wed, 03 Sep 2014 11:18:17 +0000

Award for Innovative Training (PIA for short)

The AMCON GmbH is the software specialist in the public transport sector (ÖPNV) for sales systems. In addition to developing fare and sales concepts, AMCON creates innovative back-end systems for a wide range of sales devices such as smartphones, tablets, mobile ticketing devices, and vending machines. The main focus lies on mobile ticketing devices, which are used for selling tickets, checking online and mobile tickets, Touch&Travel validations, updating tickets, issuing increased fares (for fare evasion), and logging damage reports. Out of the 20-person team, two are currently training as IT specialists with a focus on application development, and two are pursuing a bachelor’s degree in business informatics.

Our innovative project: Public Transport meets Carrera Track – Team-oriented, practical, and creativity-enhancing

The “Carrera Track” project was launched to give trainees the opportunity to creatively and enthusiastically build a Carrera racetrack landscape that can be used for the custom-developed applications.

In theory-heavy professions like that of an IT specialist, there’s often the issue that once certain applications are developed, there are few opportunities to realistically test them. To solve this problem, the trainees were tasked with building a Carrera racetrack and integrating our mobile devices, used in public transportation (ÖPNV) for tasks such as ticket sales, recording damage reports, and registering “increased transport charges” (EBE).

The trainees’ solution involves equipping the cars used on the track with QR codes — the same ones we developed for Deutsche Bahn online tickets. These QR codes contain information about each car and its driver. Our mobile devices should be able to scan and evaluate this information. Additionally, before each race, drivers must identify themselves using a chip card.

In the event of a “traffic accident” (when a car flies off the track), there should be a way to record the damage and impose a fine. The necessary data for this process should also be captured by scanning the QR code and supplementing it with a photo.

The project aims to combine strong learning outcomes with a lot of fun and to strengthen team spirit. Each team member takes on a specific area of responsibility during the project phase. This is intended to enhance a sense of duty and increase appreciation for each individual. As a side effect, the otherwise “boring” topic of public transport (ÖPNV) should be made more exciting.

After the project is completed, a team meeting will be held for reflection. This will serve to exchange experiences and inspire new ideas and approaches for future projects.

Der Beitrag AMCON participates in the PIA competition erschien zuerst auf AMCON Software GmbH.

AMCON improves passenger information for HSB

verenadrees — Tue, 10 Jun 2014 11:27:51 +0000

Harzer Schmalspurbahnen GmbH (HSB), together with public transport software specialist AMCON, the project-supporting company DIKS Consult, and Wernigerode-based EITIE GmbH & Co. KG, has implemented an extensive project aimed at providing waiting passengers at all stations in the network with even better and more up-to-date information about departure times and potential changes in the future. Thomas Webel, Minister for Regional Development and Transport of the State of Saxony-Anhalt, handed over a funding notification for the project implementation to HSB in Wernigerode.

Wernigerode – The HSB and the Public Transport Service Company of Saxony-Anhalt (NASA) jointly developed an ambitious and future-oriented project: the integration of the HSB, as Germany’s first steam-operated railway, into a nationwide real-time information system for local transport. The goal of the Harz railway company, which transports over one million passengers from around the world each year with its historic steam trains, is to optimize customer service. With the implementation of NASA’s existing dynamic passenger information system, all 48 stations and stops within the 140.4 km network will be upgraded with “real-time information.” This means that waiting passengers will receive information about upcoming train departure times and possible delays even at unstaffed stations.

However, integrating HSB’s historic steam trains into NASA’s INSA information system required a technical special solution from AMCON, which was implemented in two phases with financial support from the state of Saxony-Anhalt. The first phase primarily involved equipping HSB train conductors with new “mobile service terminals.” These not only replace the first generation of mobile sales devices used for onboard ticket sales, which were more than ten years old, but also serve as key control elements for the technical setup of the project’s second phase, the actual transmission of real-time data.

The second phase covered the transmission of current train time data via satellite to NASA’s computer-based operations control system (INSA-RBL) and the subsequent forwarding of this data to the individual stations and stops. At the display devices installed there, passengers now receive all important information about upcoming train departures and any delays.

Der Beitrag AMCON improves passenger information for HSB erschien zuerst auf AMCON Software GmbH.

AMCON at IT-Trans 2014

verenadrees — Sat, 22 Feb 2014 11:33:45 +0000

IT-TRANS offers an international platform where decision-makers discuss IT solutions that will make public transportation of tomorrow even more attractive and safer.

From February 18 to 20, 2014, at IT-TRANS in Karlsruhe, Hall 2, Booth F4, AMCON showcased innovative solutions in the fields of fare management, e-ticketing, access control, software/software development, and combined transport. With their innovative and high-quality products, AMCON provides complete solutions for public and private transport companies. Many public transport companies rely on AMCON’s UFHO system because it not only strengthens revenue security and increases customer satisfaction but also accelerates operational processes and, due to its intuitive usability, enjoys high acceptance among users.

The highlight at the AMCON booth was the presentation of the UFHO control module, which communicates directly with the UFHO backend system. This application is device-independent and also enables the possible recording of increased transport charges (EBE) after inspection.

Key features of the UFHO control module:

Controls 2D barcodes as well as chip cards compliant with KA standards
Checks mobile tickets, Touch&Travel (approved by Deutsche Bahn), and online tickets
Optionally verifies eTickets with and without SAM – implements the KA 400 ms check
High verification speeds – a quick info directly provides validity status
Runs on an Android basis (Windows planned)
Intuitive user interface
Direct combination with EBE recording
Synchronizes action and block lists via the backend system
Launches external applications
Detailed information on all authorizations is always traceable
Automatic and secure data exchange with the UFHO backend system
Device management in the background
Test and training modes
Device-independent – UFHO can be used on smartphones, tablets, or other mobile or stationary devices
Supports Bluetooth printers or built-in printers
Extension available for surveys and passenger counts

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Der Beitrag AMCON at IT-Trans 2014 erschien zuerst auf AMCON Software GmbH.