Phares,

I would like to disagree with you on the point of cost of the device, the problem with most of us technical people is that we are unable to sell the true benefits of a the solution we offer as we look at the solution from a technical point than a business point.

We need to be able to sell the business solution not the technology at which point the US$ 2,000/- will be looked at an asset acquisition that by definition will improve the bottom line.  A quick one could be why not make the ticket larger and then sell advertising space on it, I know I get bored when travelling as the average trip takes at least 15 minutes.

The reason that ticketing device is strong at the core of KBMC's system is because it delivers all we need to do to offer an upgrade that retains the current functionality and then moves them forward from there.

I have had the opportunity to see what Kenya Business Management Company does with the data collected from those perceived archaic tickets dispensers coupled with the route records filled by the conductor at predefined locations and it is a marvel.

Watch Kenya Bus Management Company has we phase out the 14 sitters, and it is a target market that any forward thinking developer should look into. 

City Hopper did not take on an efficient ticketing system and neither a route planning application because not even Thuo appreciated those metal gadgets in all the time he was MD of Kenya Bus. 
 
Robert Yawe
KAY System Technologies Ltd
Phoenix House, 6th Floor
P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200
Kenya

Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696


From: Phares Kariuki <pkariuki@gmail.com>
To: robert yawe <robertyawe@yahoo.co.uk>
Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke>
Sent: Fri, 24 June, 2011 8:10:20
Subject: Re: [kictanet] A true innovation?

Speaking from personal experience, the problem with the ticketing machines is one of management on the part of the bus company owners... There have been attempts to get rugged ticketing devices (the sort that farmers choice etc use when on the road) but they are not keen on them... One rugged device is around 2,000 USD. For 10 of them, you would need to invest in what would otherwise be a down-payment for a bus... Additionally the additional cost with regards to human resource and other ICT infrastructure is not considered worth it, by the bus companies... It's an unfortunate situation, given the obvious benefits a tech based system would have. The sad thing is all 3 major bus companies have basically reached a stagnation point with regards to operational efficiency and have barely increased their fleetsize in the last five years (proof is the fact that new bus companies, City Shuttle et al are coming into the space).

On Thu, Jun 23, 2011 at 12:58 PM, robert yawe <robertyawe@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
Hi Listers,

A few days ago an was in a Kenya Bus and got a deja vu moment as I looked at the conductor standing in front of  me dispensing his ticket. 


The moment tool me back to 1978 and I a sitting in a number 29 bus coming from Eastleigh, where I went to school (now you can understand my lack of etiquette at times) to Buru Buru where we lived.

To date the machine remains the same with what seems to be a very basic activity, dispensing tickets.  Which would explain why it remains the same no fancy additions or features, but what many of you might not know is that it seats at the heart of a very elaborate system.

This easily overlooked device gives Kenya Bus Management Company the wealth of information that keeps them ahead of the pack and kept them operational event after all the groups of raiders who have owned the company over the past 20 or so years, lose of their garage in Eastleigh, lose of the monopoly in Nairobi and Mombasa, lose of the sole use of the Bus Terminal in Nairobi. 

Now that little gadget that we all take for granted as we start new transport organisations is what has kept them going.  There is a product ready to be transitioned to the 21st century if only we stopped looking for opportunities for innovation in all the wrong places.

A true innovation.

Regards

PS.  I am a sower, I leave harvesting to others.
 
Robert Yawe
KAY System Technologies Ltd
Phoenix House, 6th Floor
P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200
Kenya


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With Regards,

Phares Kariuki

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