Messages 2021 - AMCON Software GmbH

AMCON.MOBILE checks COVID certificates during ticket inspections

verenadrees — Mon, 29 Nov 2021 08:43:02 +0000

Control 3G, 2G or 2G+ in public transport – without additional costs – without development effort

AMCON (29 November 2021) – To ensure that vaccination, recovery, or test certificates presented by passengers are authentic, AMCON customers can now verify the validity of COVID certificates directly using their inspection devices. The standard feature External Apps in the AMCON.SYSTEM allows for the controlled distribution and approval of external apps via the backend system directly to the inspection devices. This type of installation prevents the devices from accessing the internet independently.

Testing for all common corona apps

With the help of the CovPassCheck app, which the Robert Koch Institute provides free of charge to authorities and businesses, the vaccination, test, and recovery status of passengers can be checked in compliance with data protection regulations. Passenger service staff scan the QR codes on passengers’ smartphones or printed certificates using the inspection device. If the certificate is genuine, a green checkmark appears on the display for the staff member. In the case of a forgery, a red X is shown. This way, transport companies are protected against fraud. The verification process of the EU digital COVID certificates works even without an active internet connection.

Advantage for AMCON customers: free of charge and ready for immediate use

There are no additional costs for transport companies and associations using AMCON inspection devices, and the function can be deployed immediately. “The External Apps feature on the inspection devices was an internal requirement for the AMCON.SYSTEM, which our customers have already been able to use since 2016, for example, for timetable information,” says Bernhard Bruns, Product Manager for AMCON.MOBILE at the Cloppenburg-based system provider.

For enforcing sanctions, transport companies can independently define special “Corona EBE” (increased fare penalties) within the EBE module. Damage types, mandatory and optional fields for data collection, and receipt layouts can be easily and quickly configured in the backend system and distributed to the inspection devices. No intervention from AMCON is required here either.

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University of Oldenburg and AMCON launch research cooperation

verenadrees — Tue, 09 Nov 2021 08:59:46 +0000

Over the next two years, the University of Oldenburg’s Business Informatics department will research how to make on-demand transport, with its complex challenges, sustainable and future-proof.

AMCON (November 9, 2021) – With Prof. Dr. Jorge Marx Gómez heading the project, Lukas Cremers will conduct research over the next two years at the University of Oldenburg’s Department of Business Informatics on how to make on-demand transport sustainable and future-proof despite its complex challenges. As part of this research cooperation, various methods and practical applications in the field of demand-responsive transport will be explored, including the use of artificial intelligence (AI). AMCON and the Chair of Business Informatics / Very Large Business Applications (VLBA), led by Prof. Dr. Jorge Marx Gómez, have already successfully collaborated in the past. In 2019/2020, the ROCIT project group analyzed the main factors contributing to delays in public transport with the help of AI. To deepen this successful cooperation, an official two-year research partnership has now been established. “I am looking forward to the results of this cooperation and the insights from students who will engage with the topic through project groups as well as bachelor’s and master’s theses. Mobility in rural areas remains an important political issue affecting many parts of society,” says Prof. Dr. Jorge Marx Gómez.

Flexible mobility services for rural areas

In addition to optimizing advance planning, various bachelor’s and master’s theses as well as other student project groups will be part of the research collaboration. This includes the design and implementation of a software architecture for a system that supports on-demand transport, which integrates holistically into the public transport system landscape via open standards (VDV, HUSST) and incorporates existing on-demand services. “We look forward to collaborating with the University of Oldenburg on this research project. The scientific approach is of great importance to our work, and this partnership also creates valuable opportunities for the professional futures of the students involved,” says Rolf Norrenbrock, Head of Training at AMCON, who is coordinating the project.

Overall, the IT location around Oldenburg continues to enjoy strong popularity and growth prospects. The planned IT campus, supported by funding of 35 million euros, will significantly expand and strengthen the region. Practical research and the application of innovative concepts to meet future mobility needs will also be a focus of the research cooperation between AMCON and the University of Oldenburg.

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The second AMCON Anwendertage were a complete success…

verenadrees — Fri, 24 Sep 2021 09:18:27 +0000

To the great delight of the Cloppenburg-based software company, the second edition of the Anwendertage was once again held as an in-person event.
From September 22 to 23, nearly 70 participants from the bus and rail sector gathered at the Thülsfelder Talsperre to learn about the latest updates to the AMCON.SYSTEM and to exchange ideas with fellow users, consultants, and interested parties about its various applications.
“We’ve continued to evolve over the past year and a half — not only have we changed the name of our software, but we’ve also expanded its functionality,” said Managing Director Darius Rauert. Participants had the opportunity to see this progress firsthand during 13 technical and practical presentations as well as in the dedicated showroom area.

The focus was on networking and exchanging experiences

With the relaunch of its website and the rebranding of the UFHO system to AMCON.SYSTEM, the software provider is reinforcing its own brand identity.
“We want to clearly communicate what we stand for, which is why we’ve aligned our product names with internationally recognized industry terminology,” says Rauert. More information about AMCON.MOBILE, AMCON.POS, AMCON.BUS, AMCON.ACCOUNTING, AMCON.ABO, and AMCON.WEB can be found on the company website.

In addition to presenting its own recent developments, AMCON also gave the floor to customers from the bus and rail sector during the Anwendertage. Among them was Christian Lenz from Münchner Verkehrsgesellschaft, who shared insights into mobile ticket inspection and EBE (increased fare) processing. Andreas Maack from Nahverkehr Schwerin reported on the pilot project for ID-based ticketing using debit and credit cards. The first day concluded with a presentation by Lukas Cremers and René Kessler from the University of Oldenburg, who spoke about the joint research partnership on demand-responsive transport in rural areas. Coffee breaks and the evening program, featuring a DJ and the band Die Zwei, provided ample time for networking and informal exchange.

Outlook for future projects and the AMCON.APP

The second day kicked off with a presentation by Dirk Klingberg, Head of Project Management at AMCON, on ID-based ticketing at Vetter GmbH. Thomas Rissiek and Markus Kamping from Westfälische Verkehrsgesellschaft shared insights into the Big Bird Westfalen and CiBo NRW projects before AMCON’s product managers presented updates to the board unit and pre-sales solutions.
AMCON’s Head of Development, Sebastian Schnieder, concluded the event with a forward-looking presentation on current and future projects. These include the AMCON.APP for Verkehrsbetriebe Westfalen-Süd (Siegen) and a chat module for AMCON.MOBILE, which will be deployed in Munich, among other locations. “We’re very pleased that so many of our customers were enthusiastic about showcasing their solutions at this year’s Anwendertage. Real-world examples like these are valuable for other clients and consultants and also represent great recognition of the work our team does every day. Overall, it was a successful event, and we’re already looking forward to the next Anwendertage in two years,” says Olaf Clausen, Managing Director at AMCON.

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FDP parliamentary candidate Carolin Abeln visits AMCON

verenadrees — Wed, 11 Aug 2021 09:54:23 +0000

During her election campaign, FDP Bundestag candidate Carolin Abeln visited the software company AMCON on Osterstraße. Also present were Jörg Abromeit, Yilmaz Mutlu, and Oliver Renze, who are running for the FDP in the district council election. Abeln was impressed by the work of the software service provider and their efforts to counter the shortage of skilled workers in the IT sector. “It is great to see that there are such young and innovative companies in our district that offer local youth career prospects and provide excellent training,” Abeln summarized the visit. Oliver Renze himself is a dual student at AMCON, enrolled in the dual study program in Business Informatics in cooperation with IBS Oldenburg. Currently, the company employs 24 trainees who are studying Business Informatics in the dual system or completing the IHK training as IT specialists in application development.

Software made in Cloppenburg

Over coffee and cake, the managing directors Olaf Clausen and Darius Rauert welcomed the Bundestag candidate and the FDP members from Cloppenburg and gave a company presentation outlining the areas in which AMCON operates. The AMCON.System is now in use at over 50 transport companies in Germany. These include large corporations such as the Munich Transport Company and Hamburg’s HOCHBAHN, as well as the Emsland-Süd Transport Association and the Wilhelm Janßen bus company from Saterland. Abeln and the other guests were impressed by the company culture and the commitment to schools and universities to counteract the shortage of skilled workers. The digitization of rural areas was also discussed.

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Magdeburger Verkehrsbetriebe commission AMCON

verenadrees — Mon, 09 Aug 2021 10:09:41 +0000

Magdeburger Verkehrsbetriebe GmbH & Co. KG has put out a tender for sales devices and software applications for their internal sales points and external agencies, mobile data collection devices for increased fare surcharges (EBE), and a subscription system with a web interface. The Lower Saxony-based software company AMCON won this tender and will deliver a total of 60 advance sales devices for the sales points and mobile terminals for ticket inspection by early 2022, as well as a subscription management system that allows customers to register online.

The centerpiece of the new solutions will be AMCON’s backend system, where all data will be consolidated and further processed. “We are very pleased to have convinced MVB of our solutions. For this project, we are relying on standard modules of our system while incorporating MVB’s requirements, resulting in a system perfectly tailored to the customer’s needs,” says Malte Gerber, Head of Products at AMCON.

Modern hardware and cutting-edge software replace legacy system in advance sales.

As the operator of public transport in the state capital of Saxony-Anhalt, MVB employs around 900 staff members. The transport company’s fleet includes 95 trams and 59 buses, as well as 6 own sales outlets within the city. In addition, there are external agencies through which MVB tickets are sold. Over the coming months, AMCON will deliver a total of 60 cash register systems for both MVB’s own sales points and the external agencies. The scope for the company’s own outlets also includes customer displays and cash drawers. This is complemented by a comprehensive sales backend system that supplies the cash registers with data and also makes the sales device data available for further processing. The data is exchanged in real time. This real-time data exchange is also an advantage for the mobile terminals used for ticket inspections, which are delivered as handy devices including printers. Thanks to the real-time data exchange, the control center can immediately view all recorded EBE (increased fare surcharges), and customers can pay on the spot.

Subscription management with web interface for online registration

To enable passengers to apply for their subscriptions online in the future, AMCON will set up a subscription system with web access for MVB. The web portal will be directly linked to MVB’s website and will provide customers with an easy way to apply for or renew their subscription cards. Additionally, there are plans to allow low-income citizens to purchase tickets using the Otto-City Card. The Otto-City Card targets families and individuals, offering discounted entry prices at numerous partners in Magdeburg, thereby enabling people with limited incomes to participate in the city’s cultural life.

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HOCHBAHN commissions AMCON

verenadrees — Thu, 15 Jul 2021 11:05:13 +0000

HOCHBAHN issued a tender for a new sales solution for its service points. The software company AMCON was able to prevail over its competitors in the bidding process. “With this project, we can expand our existing collaboration with HOCHBAHN. We’re very pleased to have come out ahead of the competition and to have convinced them with our solution,” says Darius Rauert, Managing Partner at AMCON. In addition to the point-of-sale application and accompanying hardware components, AMCON is delivering a backend system and web interfaces for integrating third-party systems. The project will be executed using agile project management methods based on Scrum. Completion is scheduled for mid-next year.

Comprehensive sales solution with web services for external services

AMCON will install a comprehensive sales backend system for HOCHBAHN, equip 75 point-of-sale PCs with a sales application, and supply wireless 1D/2D scanners, custom-designed printers with extended paper capacity, customer displays with touch functionality, and eTicket readers. The software’s functionality includes not only cross-tariff ticket sales but also a payment option for increased fare surcharges (EBE). External bookings and payment processing for HOCHBAHN’s subscription customers are also supported. The existing cash recyclers at the service points will be integrated into the system as well. Additionally, the POS interface can be easily customized using the layout editor. Objects can be positioned with pixel-level precision and freely moved, creating a user-friendly interface. To meet the requirements for electronic ticketing in accordance with the VDV-KA standard, AMCON can draw on its experience from successfully implementing HOCHBAHN’s ticket vending machine projects.

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Regionalverkehr Ruhr-Lippe and AMCON implement the issue of school travel tickets in the app in Westphalia

verenadrees — Thu, 01 Jul 2021 11:17:12 +0000

In May 2021, RLG Regionalverkehr Ruhr-Lippe GmbH launched the pilot project “eTicketing for Student Monthly Travel Passes” (SWMT) at nine schools in Soest and Arnsberg, covering the Hochsauerlandkreis and Soest districts. Around 2,000 eligible students were able to register online and receive a digital eTicket in the “mobil info” smartphone app in addition to their paper ticket. The pilot phase ends on July 3 with the close of the school year and will continue in live operation after the summer break. Additional schools are expected to join the program in the fourth quarter of 2021. “With the Student Monthly Travel Pass, we’re expanding our range of eTickets with a significant product. Around 40% of our passengers at RLG could benefit from the digital SWMT. We’re very pleased to have implemented this pilot project with AMCON and aim to roll it out across the region as soon as possible,” says Thomas Rissiek, Head of Sales at RLG.

Experience has shown that students are more likely to forget their paper tickets than their smartphones. Students without a smartphone can continue using paper tickets. Switching to the VDV barcode in the app is optional and not mandatory.

Subscription management with web interface for easy registration

All students eligible for a Student Monthly Travel Pass receive a QR code by post, which they can scan to register online. In addition to their traditional paper ticket, they then receive a digital eTicket for the smartphone app. This process is solely focused on providing students with a digital ticket, as paper value stamps were previously used in this area. The project uses AMCON’s customer management and eTicket modules, which are neatly integrated into the backend system. From there, data can be managed and the appropriate ticket media prepared. In the final quarter of this year, the project is set to be gradually expanded to additional schools within RLG’s service area. Under the umbrella of Westfälische Verkehrsgesellschaft (WVG), RLG is conducting the pilot project on behalf of its sister companies RVM Regionalverkehr Münsterland GmbH and VKU Verkehrsgesellschaft Kreis Unna mbH.

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AMCON expands webshop for RAB in Baden-Württemberg

verenadrees — Mon, 21 Jun 2021 11:35:24 +0000

Just ahead of the IBO Spring Fair in Friedrichshafen in early July, AMCON expanded the online shop for DB ZugBus Regionalverkehr Alb-Bodensee GmbH, enabling the sale of combination tickets – which include both public transport tickets and entry to the IBO fair. The IBO Spring Fair, featuring over 260 exhibitors across four halls and the outdoor area, takes place from July 8 to 11 and promises a vibrant program to kick off the summer. “We’re very pleased that the project was completed smoothly despite the fair’s postponement. Back in 2019, AMCON implemented the BW fare system for us and, as part of that, also developed the webshop for combination tickets for the Federal Garden Show. We hope to see the same success at this year’s IBO fair,” says Jasmin Mogck, Project Manager at DB ZugBus Regionalverkehr Alb-Bodensee GmbH, who coordinated the project.

Modern web store with simple login and secure payment

For now, passengers can purchase BW fare products and combination tickets for the IBO Fair. In the coming weeks, additional tickets from the bodo fare system will soon be available. Customers can register easily in the webshop, choose between direct debit or credit card payment, and receive their ticket automatically via email with a VDV barcode. Payments are processed through the payment service provider LogPay. Within AMCON’s backend system, tickets can be managed easily, and new products for the webshop can be added with minimal effort. Since the introduction of the BW fare in 2019, passengers in Baden-Württemberg have benefited from significantly lower fares, making cross-network travel more attractive and easier. Visit the webshop here: https://bodo-ticket.de/

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AMCON implements ticket machine project at SFK in Kiel

verenadrees — Mon, 14 Jun 2021 11:51:45 +0000

Schlepp- und Fährgesellschaft Kiel mbH (SFK), a sister company of KVG Kiel, operates ferry lines on the Kiel Fjord that are part of the public transport network. To replace the manual sale of paper tickets and reduce the workload for the ship’s crew, AMCON has implemented a cashless sales solution for SFK. A total of five ships will be equipped with the modern Pyramid Polytouch 24 Classic terminals. The self-service terminals are already in operation on the MS Schwentine and the brand-new MS Düsternbrook. “We are very satisfied with the smooth project implementation and are now eager to see how customers respond to the cashless sales terminals,” says Andreas Schulz, Managing Director of Schlepp- und Fährgesellschaft Kiel mbH. In addition, besides the three remaining terminals to be installed by March 2022, four onboard units will be installed on the ships that function as staffed cash registers where passengers can still pay with cash.

Cashless self-service terminals ensure modern ticket sales on board

Passengers can conveniently purchase tickets for ferry rides on the Kiel Fjord cashlessly via the large touchscreens. The project also supports the SH Tarif 2.0 fare system. Schedule data is imported using VDV 452, and through the connected backend system, the central office can manage master data, shifts, devices, and cashier accounts, as well as control data distribution.

In addition to the cashless customer terminals, four AMCON board units — already proven in practice and widely used by many bus companies in Germany — are being delivered. Besides selling tickets onboard the ships, the board units also function as IBIS Masters, for example, to determine changing stops. Meanwhile, the self-service terminals act as IBIS Slaves, enabling relational sales with automatically detected starting stops.

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LNVG Groß-Gerau commissions AMCON with vehicle solution

verenadrees — Tue, 25 May 2021 12:18:24 +0000

The local public transport company LNVG Groß-Gerau (Lokale Nahverkehrsgesellschaft mbH Groß-Gerau) has commissioned the software provider AMCON from Cloppenburg to implement a new sales solution for buses. A total of …

AMCON (May 25, 2021) – The Lower Saxony-based software company AMCON is pleased to announce a major contract win in the state of Hesse. Following a public tender, LNVG Groß-Gerau has commissioned AMCON to deliver a new on-board ticketing solution with ITCS interface (computer-aided dispatch system) and backend system for buses. As the public transport authority for the district of Groß-Gerau, LNVG coordinates bus services operated by several transport companies across the district’s 13 towns and municipalities. It also serves as a link to the Rhein-Main Transport Association (RMV), which oversees regional and supra-regional transport operations. “AMCON’s solution won us over. It’s modern, easy to use, and we’re very much looking forward to working together,” says Christian Sommer, Managing Director of LNVG. By the end of 2022, a total of 110 ticket printers and a comprehensive backend system will be delivered to Groß-Gerau. “In most public tenders for vehicle solutions, we offer our modular bus board unit, which allows individual components to be replaced as needed. However, since LNVG was looking for a compact solution, we proposed the FSD IOT device from Zelisko, which — combined with our software — offers a perfectly tailored system for their needs,” explains Darius Rauert, Managing Director at AMCON.

New ticket printers with eTicket reader and cashless payment function

This project uses the FSD6 IOT ticket printers from Zelisko. The main advantage of the on-board computer is its integrated smart card reader, which supports both the validation of eTickets and contactless payment. The hardware also includes a 2D barcode scanner with a combination antenna, traffic signal (LSA) control, a radio device with hands-free function, and IBIS-IP compatibility. Additionally, the new vehicle solution is equipped with a panic button that connects directly to the control center to enhance safety for both drivers and passengers. A GSM telephony module ensures smooth communication between drivers and dispatch.

The backend system includes core modules such as master data and device management, shift scheduling, seller accounts, and data distribution, as well as fare data management for handling both RMV and VRN fare structures. A statistics module is also provided to generate a wide range of monthly and annual reports. Another key component is the Product and Control Module (PKM) from VDV eTicket Service GmbH. This device-independent standard enables the digital processing of various local public transport fare structures and will be implemented as part of the project. Hosting services are also included in the contract. In addition to the live production system, AMCON will deliver a test environment where new features can be trialed without affecting day-to-day operations.

Communication between vehicle and control center via air interface to the control center

The solution features a wireless interface to the existing control center. Operational measures can also be managed via the ITCS — for instance, when additional trips are needed or connections must be secured.

Thanks to AMCON’s multi-client system, all participating transport operators can access their data easily and with maximum flexibility from a single backend system. At the same time, strict separation ensures that no client can view or access the data of another.

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