Public transport will never be the same again

Not so long ago the idea of services being available on demand 24 hours a day at the press of a button seemed like a futuristic pipedream, but changing customer expectations and the unrelenting march towards an increasingly online world, has revolutionised how, when and where services are delivered.

For at least a decade the internet has become the go to place to purchase books, DVDs, clothes and groceries or make theatre reservations, book holidays and buy concert tickets. Internet shopping is an integral part of our everyday lives. But it’s no longer just pure commercial businesses that depend on the internet, many services also do. How many of us do our banking, schedule our health and dental appointments, apply for jobs or even date online? Direct customer access to these services has transformed how they are organised and delivered, indelibly changing the traditional business-to-consumer relationship.

Yet despite this tectonic shift, it would appear that some services still continue to operate in a largely ‘business as usual’ mode. Sure, they will exploit digital technologies to facilitate limited customer choice or increase operational efficiencies, but the logistical complexity of delivering a truly on-demand service is seemingly unsurmountable. A good example are providers of public bus transport who are often constrained by fixed timetables, personnel rosters and the size of their fleet…that is until now!

In July 2015 we reported on the innovative real-time mobile technology developed by enterprising Nottingham University Business School alumnus Hara Two (MBA 2012) to significantly improve daily passenger travel for thousands of workers in India. Now, thanks to support from the ‘Global Entrepreneur Program’ a special initiative designed to encourage overseas based entrepreneurs to set up their businesses in the UK, Hara has launched a ground-breaking new company that is set to revolutionise bus transportation in major cities throughout Britain (visit the LiveTheGo website).

The idea is deceptively simple, the passenger uses a mobile app to personalise and schedule their individual transport needs.  Behind the app is sophisticated programming that pulls in real-time data from all the cities transport providers to work out the most efficient scheduling. In layman’s terms it’s Uber for public buses. Future developments include the use of smart devices such as a smartwatch and even interactive voice response.

The benefits of the system are not just confined to a cheap and convenient service for the passenger but also enable transport operators to optimise the utilisation of their vehicle fleet, cutting timetabling and route planning costs in the process. The company’s ‘You say, we schedule’ slogan perfectly encapsulates the benefits to the customer and if successful will ensure that public transport will never be the same again.

Hara is a proven and successful entrepreneur, who heads the Hara Business Group in India which has diversified into businesses including tour coach rentals, travel management, event management and IT services. He started his entrepreneurial career at the age of 18 with tour coach rentals in India and now his company is the biggest coach fleet in Kerala State, India, counting several multinational companies in their client list such as Tata and Technopark, Trivandrum.

In 2011 Hara joined Nottingham University Business School for the full time MBA programme. Nottingham’s distinctive strengths in entrepreneurship and business innovation have, according to Hara, significantly enhanced his confidence and knowledge as well as providing access to a vast network and resources that is key for the early stages of his business venture. “The University’s Ingenuity Lab and mentors gave me in-depth knowledge of the business culture and market dynamics in the UK. They guided me on how to make best use of social media tools to build my network and provided free meeting rooms, office space and other services to work on my idea and develop it.”

Hara’s new business is one of the first to take up residence in The Ingenuity Centre which was recently opened by the Rt Hon Jo Johnson, Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation based at the University of Nottingham Innovation Park. The new building is the focal-point of the University Enterprise Zone and will support and provide accommodation for businesses operating in sectors of key local and national importance, such as Big Data & Digital, Advanced Manufacturing, Aerospace and Energy. It is expected that the Centre will create 50 new businesses by 2019, generating 350 new jobs and delivering a combined turnover of £25m by 2021.

More about the Global Entrepreneur Programme

The Global Entrepreneur Programme (GEP) is run by the Department for International Trade (formerly known as UKTI) and provides free help and guidance, particularly for early stage technology businesses or start-ups. The programme has so far helped relocate around 340 businesses to the UK, creating over 1000 jobs in the UK economy and raising more than £1 billion of private investment.

Find out more about the Global Entrepeneur Programme