Enabling customers to plan, book and pay for their journeys in one place - and across all types of transport - is at the heart of new trials announced today by Transport for NSW.
A number of companies in the technology sector have been chosen to progress innovations in the emerging area of ‘Mobility as a Service (MaaS)’.
"Through our MaaS innovation challenge we wanted to bring the transport and technology industry together to look at ways customers can plan, book and pay for all their transport needs in real-time in one place, combining public transport, rideshare or even bikeshare," a Transport for NSW spokesperson said.
"MaaS offers customers mobility solutions based on their travel needs and we will now undertake pilots, through 2019, to help shape the future of Mobility as a Service solutions in NSW."
The five finalists of Transport for NSW’s MaaS Innovation Challenge, which is progressing pitches to the test and learn phase, are rideshare company Uber, Sydney-based data specialists Lynxx, Helsinki-based Maas Global – the company behind the Whim app, local start-up Swiftfare Fleet, and Skedgo, a Sydney-based start-up that developed the Tripgo app.
"We are committed to creating a dynamic, growing MaaS marketplace with small and large players working together to give customers improved, personalised travel options alongside main transport routes and these finalists will help us make that concept a reality," the spokesperson said.
"The start-up community has embraced the challenges we set and we look forward to seeing the results of these five trials and we will continue to keep the door open for more innovative opportunities in this space."
