Leading digital transformation consultancy, Softwire, has been entrusted with the task of creating the mobile ticketing and real-time journey information app for Transport for Greater Manchester’s (TfGM) Bee Network.
The Bee Network represents Greater Manchester’s aspiration for a high-capacity, low-fare transport system akin to London’s, aimed at revolutionizing travel across the city region and supporting its goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2038.
Softwire will spearhead the design, development, and deployment of the app, with the initial version slated for release in time for the launch of TfGM’s locally controlled bus services on September 24, 2023. This app will serve as the primary means for passengers to purchase combined Bee AnyBus + Tram tickets, offering approximately 20% cost savings compared to individual tickets.
The inaugural Bee Network app will offer the following features:
- Integration of Greater Manchester’s new bus and existing tram services within a single platform.
- Real-time departure information to assist passengers in planning their journeys.
- Navigational aids highlighting stops and stations across the Manchester transport network.
- The capability to buy retail tickets covering the entire Manchester transport network.
- In-app mobile tickets accessible directly from passengers’ mobile devices.
Following the app’s delivery, Softwire will collaborate with TfGM to facilitate knowledge transfer, enabling the organization’s in-house teams to assume responsibility for ongoing maintenance and future enhancements, building upon the established foundations.
Helen Humble, Head of Ticketing at TfGM, commented: “We look forward to working with Softwire to create the first version of the Bee Network mobile app, which will include the foundations on which we can continually enhance the customer experience over the coming years for the benefit of Greater Manchester. Softwire has demonstrable expertise in this space, including around user-centric design, accessibility and the ability to build apps that integrate seamlessly with a variety of services, all of which will be crucial here.”
Alex Wolff, Director of Public Sector & Transport at Softwire, added: “We’re really excited to be helping TfGM deliver on its ambitious Bee Network vision, which will improve the lives of everyone living in, working in and visiting Greater Manchester, while also helping the region reduce its greenhouse gas emissions from transport. Apps like this have such a powerful role to play in increasing public transport usage, and the key is to get the user experience just right. This covers everything from offering the right capabilities and designing the screens correctly, through to ensuring the underlying architecture can meet expectations around availability and performance, particularly at peak times. We’ll be drawing on our experience of designing and building other apps in the travel industry, including for train operator LNER, where the app we created currently has a rating of 4.9 out of 5 on the iOS App Store.”
