Information for public transport passengers at stops is breaking new ground. Since the beginning of May, SOB has been using an information system that can be adapted to the needs of passengers. The Netcetera Passenger Information Display System, PIDS. For years, Netcetera has been continuously bringing innovations for digital and smart mobility to the market. Now, the leading Swiss software company is driving digitalization at public transport stops. The sophisticated system can be effortlessly operated, controlled, monitored, and made available on end devices. SOB customers can call up a wide range of information in real-time at the touch of a finger at the stations.
As part of its "Digital Rail Access" project, SOB is going one step further. Together with Netcetera, it has renewed and digitalized its customer information system. The product used for this, Netcetera Passenger Information Display System, PIDS, is the successor to the pioneering product Wemlin. It enables Südostbahn to provide its customers with any desired and required information on a digital screen directly at the stops. New interactive columns conveniently inform passengers about their journey with departure, operational, and disruption messages, as well as information about the surroundings, the station, or the company.
The digital station for all travelers
As part of the digitization of stops, SOB is relying on digital steles, so-called Smart Information Displays. Passengers can easily call up comprehensive information on all aspects of rail traffic using a touchscreen. To ensure usability for people with disabilities, SOB and Netecetera have paid special attention to inclusion.
With a simple tap of the finger, SOB passengers receive timetable information or rail replacement plans and disruption reports in real-time. The information content can be flexibly changed and expanded and can also be applied to any modern terminal device, such as departure monitors or train destination displays, in addition to the columns.
Many years of industry experience and good cooperation
Netcetera, a specialist in digitization in the field of public transport, was able to apply its extensive know-how and many years of experience in the industry. Thus, it quickly grasped the needs of the passengers and the requirements of Südostbahn and was able to optimally cover them with the Netcetera PIDS. The partners attribute the successful implementation of the project to their collegial and outstanding cooperation.
Martin Pistek, Overall Project Manager of Schweizerische Südostbahn AG says: "The implementation and integration of our display server with our partner Netcetera was professional and goal-oriented. Our passenger information system meets the requirements of a modern and modular infrastructure. We are very satisfied with the result."
Sascha Michaelowa, Product Owner & Requirements Engineer at Netcetera and project manager of the project, emphasizes how important the cooperation was and what it was based on: "The common understanding of the industry and the project goals, as well as a quick solution finding in case of open questions, were the basis for a very pleasant cooperation with SOB. This is reflected in the successful result."
Strategic focus on digital mobility
For Netcetera, the implementation of the customer information system at SOB is a successful implementation of its PIDS product and a strategic step towards the future of digital mobility. "The Passenger Information Display System is one of our core products. We are proud that we were able to implement it at Schweizerische Südostbahn AG with great results," says Oliver Aeschlimann, Head of Product & Market Strategy, Digital Enterprise Division at Netcetera. "We believe that the digitalization of stations and the paperless, digital journey for passengers will be much more in focus in the future. In doing so, software will continue to take center stage and serve as a differentiator for mobility service providers."
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