Case Study
Transforming Entrada’s Bus Operations
Kevin McCormick
1 min read
Transport & travel services
Industry:
Company size:
Business goals:
Business results at a glance
Driver engagement and route compliance
Foundation laid
For multi-channel customer communication and live updates
Reduced ineffiencies
In operations from missed stops and delays
The Driver App and Bus Tracker are more than just digital tools – they’re about giving both drivers and customers the confidence that every journey will go to plan. It’s the foundation for a modern, scalable transport experience that Entrada can take across its entire network.
Brett Flintoff
Experieco
Entrada Travel Group operates an extensive network of transport services across New Zealand and Australia, including InterCity buses, ferries, and tours. Managing hundreds of daily trips across varied geographies, many with contracted drivers, posed challenges in passenger pickups, service reliability, and real-time vehicle visibility.
Partnering with Experieco, Entrada embarked on two key digital initiatives:
Driver App:
A mobile companion for drivers to manage routes, passenger manifests, ticket scanning, and onboard sales.Bus Tracker: An operational dashboard to track busses in real-time via GPS data
Context
With multiple franchise operators and contracted drivers, Entrada faced several operational challenges.
Key pain points
Limited real-time communication between head office and drivers
No centralised way to confirm passenger pickups and ticket validation
Inconsistent device types, connectivity issues in remote areas, and varied onboard technology
Missed pickups leading to customer dissatisfaction and costly recovery effort
Inaccurate or incomplete GPS data from buses, impacting operational decision-making
Lack of a customer-facing tracking experience similar to leading urban transport systems
The Experieco solution
Entrada chose OutSystems, the world’s leading AI-enabled enterprise development platform, for its rapid application development capabilities. This decision was driven by the need to build multiple applications using the best technologies available. Additionally, we integrated Google Maps & Directions APIs for efficient routing, traffic data, and ETA calculations, alongside custom GPS data from various franchise fleet systems.
Driver app
Developed in OutSystems, the app provides drivers with a clear, route-specific manifest, including passenger details, ticket validation (QR scanning), baggage information, and the ability to update the manifest in real time.
Additional features under consideration include:In-app messaging between operations and individual drivers.
Onboard sales and service logging (e.g., snacks, drinks, extra baggage).
Quick passenger add-ons for last-minute bookings.
By digitising these workflows, the Driver App reduces reliance on paper manifests and improves pickup accuracy, even in complex multi-stop journeys.Bus tracker
This solution integrates GPS data from multiple franchise fleets into a unified platform.
Initially designed for operations teams, the system:Displays all active buses, their routes, and expected arrival times.
Flags delays, route deviations, and potential service disruptions.
Integrates with Google Maps API for real-time traffic and ETA updates.
A new phase focuses on customer-facing live tracking via the Entrada website and mobile-friendly interfaces, so passengers can see exactly when their bus arrives.
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Long-Term Impact
Scalability: Outsystems is specifically designed to promote reusability of common components across applications
Improved Service Reliability: Reduced missed pickups with precise, up-to-date manifests.
Operational Efficiency: Reduced manual calls and coordination by enabling live status checks
The architecture and approach used for Entrada’s Driver App and Bus Tracker can be adapted to: Ferry and tour operations needing passenger tracking Charter flight or scenic tour providers requiring live location updates Logistics fleets managing multi-stop deliveries Any distributed transport service balancing central oversight with contractor autonomy
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