Connection continuity and a single ticket for both train and bus – Banská Bystrica County has successfully integrated public transport in the region and modernised it substantially. A key part of this effort was a tailor-made cloud solution that was essential to the entire project.
At the beginning of the modernisation, the Banská Bystrica Region established the joint stock company Organiser of the IDS BBSK. It was given the task to prepare the integration of various modes of transport – from regional (suburban) bus to railway. The aim was to improve efficiency and passenger comfort. “We wanted to make public transport comfortable, fast and accessible for passengers,” explains Ing. Radoslav Vavruš, Chairman of the Board of IDS BBSK.
The key role of cloud services
To achieve these goals, a robust IT infrastructure had to be built. GAMO, a cloud services provider, designed a solution built on VMware technology that allows the customer to fully manage their virtual data center. “This flexibility and scalability of the infrastructure was a decisive factor for us,” explains Peter Maček, Head of Operations at IDS and IT/ICT, explaining the reasons why they decided to move to the cloud.
The new solution allows the county company to manage resources efficiently, as the system can be adapted to the current needs. If there is a need to increase computing resources, the cloud infrastructure allows them to be quickly expanded without the need for new investments in physical hardware. “We are thus able to manage all hardware resources, including the creation and modification of virtual machines, networks and other elements,” says Peter Maček from IDS BBSK about the positives. In addition, the cloud solution runs on highly secure and reliable servers in the Data Cube data centre in Bratislava, with a backup location in Banská Bystrica. “This ensures us 24-hour availability, seven days a week, and a high level of data backup.”
Moving to the cloud also saves the county money. The services are maintained by GAMO, which provides updates and servicing of the systems, so IDS BBSK does not spend money on hardware management. “This allows us to fully focus on providing and improving the quality of services to passengers,” says Peter Maček. Equally important is data security and protection. Data collected from external sources and, in the first phase of integration, from the buses is processed, verified and stored securely for possible future needs. Data backup and recovery are handled automatically, minimizing the risk of data loss.
Benefits for passengers
Residents and visitors of the Banská Bystrica region using public transport now have an overview of tickets and can plan their routes more easily thanks to a cloud-based solution. “The introduction of pre-paid tickets with unlimited rides in a certain zone, push-up notifications about the end of ticket validity and the possibility of managing the fare through a family account increase comfort, save time and money,” says Maček from IDS BBSK, specifying the positives for passengers.
The cloud solution has also enabled the introduction of innovative payment methods for fares. This includes online shopping options via the e-shop, including payments via debit, credit or IDS cards.
Thanks to integration into the cloud, IDS BBSK can manage the entire system from one central location and respond in real time to passenger needs and changes in traffic. According to Petr Maček, virtual servers enable the collection and processing of data from multiple devices and their systems located in the means of transport. “This data will greatly assist us in optimising routes, improving timetables, and providing up-to-date information to passengers in the future.”
Inspiration for other regions
The successful integration of GAMO’s cloud services with the example of the BBSK ITS shows how such a solution can contribute to improving public transport. It is not only a practical solution, but also an inspiring example for other regions and businesses seeking to modernise their public services.
“We have shown that innovative improvements in service, comfort and efficiency of public transport are possible with the right choice of technology. At the same time, future adopters of a similar solution can rely on it to provide them with rapid adaptation to changing needs in the future,” says Ing. According to him, it clearly proves that, thanks to modern technologies, it has been possible to create an efficient and user-friendly system that helps to increase passenger comfort, but also optimises the operation of the entire transport system.
