The Mobility as a Service concept was launched two years ago at the last ITS European Congress in Helsinki and it is now becoming a well-established business model, attracting interest of public authorities, service providers, technology companies. Following the trend and the interest of the ITS industry, this year Congress is hosting several sessions around the theme; below some highlights:
PL3 – Mobility as a Service
Thursday 11:00
Nearly three-quarters of Europeans live in cities or urban areas and this proportion is predicted to grow throughout the next 30 years. Residents need housing, food and other essentials for living, and mobility for work, shopping and leisure. Equally ‘satellite’ towns and villages share an ecosystem with such cities. They depend on the cities for essential services while providing manpower and resources. Within cities, installing new infrastructure is slow, expensive, and demanding of space. We need a transformation of urban transport within the cities as well as their links to neighbouring regions in order to deliver mobility that is environmentally, economically and socially sustainable. Many cities aim to reduce their dependence on the private car by making collective transport such as metros, buses and trams more attractive. This needs ITS and associated technologies to help bundle different modes for “Mobility as a Service” and support shared mode thinking. Societal and fiscal policy incentives are needed to influence travel habits, as well as innovative city-business partnerships to drive the provision of next generation transport. In this Plenary we will hear from cities that are successful in evolving as well as those that are in transition, and explore what is needed so that effective, sustainable solutions can “go viral”.
ES01 – Delivering integrated mobility – will it disrupt traditional business models and change roles?
Tuesday 11:00
Most ITS solutions, including services such as shared rides, car share schemes, city bikes etc focus on a single aspect of mobility and successfully deliver niche benefits. However the return on investment and delivery of intelligent mobility on a community wide scale are much improved with joined up services operating within a suite of ITS solutions and offering users a range of choices. The communications, information and payment technologies to support this are readily available. The difficult steps are that integration of different transport services is needed, new cooperation models are required, which could have an impact on legal and regulatory issues, and the roles of the different stakeholders need to change. The Mobility Sector needs to adapt to meet the needs and wishes of the end users; the Public Sector needs to adapt to the emergence of the Internet of Things, new uses for social media and rapidly changing accessibility to open information. The key questions are how to evolve? And are the stakeholders prepared to change?
SIS01 – MaaS new business and service approaches
Tuesday 11:00
Mobility as a Service solutions will put users at the heart of the transport network, offering tailor-made travel services based on preferences. MaaS has the potential to become the mobility service of choice for future generations. This session will consider the current status of MaaS and outline plans for deployment from the key international initiative the Mobility as a Service Alliance. It will also discuss the industry and city and regional perspectives of MaaS and focus on developments in Scotland. MaaS will also provide the means to achieve the smarter, simplifi ed transportation landscape envisioned and expected by future users
SIS12 – Freedom to roam: towards MaaS without frontiers?
Tuesday – 16:00
Individual MaaS schemes are beginning to emerge across Europe. But how compatible will they be in practice, and does it matter? Will users attracted by the convenience, quality and value of their local MaaS service expect to enjoy the same access to MaaS services when they travel away from home? What are the policy, commercial and technical issues to be solved before Europe can build a true single market in MaaS services? In this panel session a mix of committed and intending MaaS practitioners will debate the need for a single market for MaaS providers and their transport and mobility suppliers, and for MaaS customers. To conclude, the panel will recommend the practical steps needed to create a European MaaS market as borderless for business and as seamless for customers as we’re used to for mobile communications and Internet.
SIS23 – Different approaches to a MaaS Business Model
Wednesday – 11:00
MaaS is often understood in different ways, and the existing and planned business models already vary. Finnish model is based on public sector enabling private sector to develop and operate multiple MaaS services. Many regions plan procuring one MaaS service through public tender. Some cities provide access to private transport with their smartcard. Rotterdam has split their transportation needs to number of categories which have been procured innovatively. This session investigates and highlights ups and downs of those business models in light of different local frameworks. Audience will better understand different models, and their suitability to one’s own local situation.
