Greater convenience on the bus and on the beach (PR)

IVU and Ascom Austria provide an e-ticketing solution for Klagenfurt

It’s now a whole lot more fun to ride the bus and visit the beach in Klagenfurt, thanks to a new multifunction customer card that customers of StadtWerke Klagenfurt AG (STW) can use for cashless purchases of bus and pool tickets. The system is extremely easy to use: The customer first loads an amount of credit onto the card at a chip card terminal on the bus, then uses the credit for bus trips and visits to the lakeside. In contrast to the earlier system, all the passenger has to do is hold the wallet-size customer card against an electronic ticket cancelling machine.

This extra convenience came when StadtWerke Klagenfurt replaced its old ticket printers with on-board computers from IVU’s i.box family. The i.box printers control electronic on-board equipment like destination displays and ticket cancelling machines. They provide contactless customer card recognition, collect all sales data for billing and are still able to print conventional paper tickets. The public works company uses the stationary version of the i.box printer for selling tickets in its sales outlets.

“We are completely satisfied with the new solution,” says Olaf Stotkötter, project manager with StadtWerke Klagenfurt. “The i.box printer makes it much easier for our bus drivers to control the other equipment in the vehicle and also sell tickets. Our passengers appreciate the extra convenience they get with the new customer card." In addition, passengers automatically pay the best price without having to remember the bus rates. Ever since the public works company began bundling mobility and public pool services on the new customer card, sales of the new cards have risen sharply compared to the earlier magnetic strip cards. StadtWerke Klagenfurt expects the card to increase customer loyalty over the long term.

The new system has turned the STW depot into a data pool. Incoming busses automatically exchange data collected during a trip with a central server via a wireless LAN (WLAN). The data is updated continuously, which is particularly important as a way to prevent stolen customer cards from being reused. STW uses state-of-the-art methods for operating procedures, such as GPS positioning and acceleration measures at traffic lights via a digital TETRA wireless system.

The open system platform enables the beach resort’s modern, contactless access and card management systems to be easily integrated. ASCOM Austria and IVU are convinced that their innovative system platform offers an attractive new product that meets the strictest technical standards. In Klagenfurt, at least, the public works company, IVU and Ascom Austria together make riding the bus and swimming at the pool a whole lot more fun.

IVU Traffic Technologies AG is a leading supplier of IT systems for planning, operating and optimising transport and logistics processes. Over 25 years of experience developing hardware and software systems for more than 300 public transport companies has also made IVU the market leader for IT solutions in other segments: monitoring truck fleets, setting up retail networks in geo-marketing, election processing. This is IVU's approach to transportation and beyond.

The i.box printer is an intelligent on-board computer with integrated ticket printer. Based on a cost-efficient standard PC, the i.box printer connects vehicle monitoring systems and ticketing functions in a single device. Its clearly organized display, intuitive structure, high printer speed and ease of use thanks to soft keys ensure short stopping times. The i.box printer is being operated by IVU's central ticketing software AFAB.

Contact:
Thomas Vogt
Head of Corporate Communications
IVU Traffic Technologies AG
Bundesallee 88, 12161 Berlin
Telefon +49.30.85906-800
Telefax +49.30.85906-111
E-Mail: Thomas Vogt
Internet: www.ivu.de