Railpocket
The challenge
For organisations with typically complex, wide-spread operations, a large mobile workforce, data trickling in from multiple systems, and a vast customer base that is dependent on their services – information dissemination is vital. However, it can be quite a challenge.
Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS), the state-owned railway operator decided to introduce a host of applications that would help collect and disseminate accurate information efficiently. One of the key items on their agenda was to make real-time information available to their customer-facing personnel so that they would be able to answer queries more competently.
In 2003, NS introduced a PDA to each of their field personnel. The Rail Pocket allows these personnels to receive detailed information. For example, they get a map view of the Netherlands with ‘disruption’ information regarding rail traffic. In addition, they are able to send back information to NS about the state of the different units.
RAILPOCKET NEXT GENERATION (RPNG)
Today, the demand is for real-time and relevant information. Keeping this in mind, the RPNG project is providing enhancement to the current solution to ensure NS personnels who face passengers as part of their daily tasks have access to live, context-related information.
Importantly, the information provided by RPNG software must be accurate, reliable and context based – that means it is pertinent to the current role, task and location of the user – who could be a driver, conductor or other personnel on-board.
Our answer
Logica is supporting NS to create, deliver and maintain the RPNG application. We’re helping them develop a software framework to address these demands. The scope is to realise 30 front-end services and over 40 front-end applications. We are also helping to develop a set of back-end services.
Based on a Handheld X5 device and built with Microsoft .Net technologies, this mobile solution has
an uninterrupted 3.5g/3g/2g connection (and WIFI as fall back on the 28 major railway stations of
the NS network). This keeps the data up-to-date and helps the personnel to focus on serving their
customers in an informed manner.
The Railpocket provides key functionality such as a personal verification unit for mifare* based
e-tickets (for example: the OV-chipkaart, a contactless smart card system for all public transport
in the Netherlands), real-time information on disruptions, on-line travel planner and several other
business functionalities that are commonly needed in public transport.
Key benefits:
- Improved, reliable services can be offered by the travel operators
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Real-time availability of information to the relevant personnel
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Ability to predict upcoming events, anticipate journey-related queries and prepare for the future with greater confidence.
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