Ubirider, co-funded by INESC TEC and located at UPTEC, launched a digital platform for multiple transport payments called Pick. This system is already available on the Apple Store and Google Play and allows users to plan trips, to pay for the tickets and to travel anywhere, using the best combination of means of transport.
From 27 September, it will be possible to buy tickets through the app for the new Scotturb’s express buses that make daily connections between Cascais, Sintra and Porto.
Pick has just received investment from the Iberian leader in the urban and suburban passenger transport sector, the Barraqueiro Group, and from Beatriz Barata, member of the family that owns Scotturb in Portugal and the Guanabara Group in Brazil.
The investment made by both operators aims at developing the Pick system, which combines all means of transport in a unique and simple experience and acts as an independent platform that connects passengers and transport operators. The platform has several advantages, not only for the passengers but also for the operators.
Regarding the operators, and through the Pick Hub’s web interface, they benefit from a new, independent and transparent channel that manages the passenger flows and charges fares in real time, without the need for additional infrastructure. In order to make these operations possible, data is anonymously collected by Pick Hub from the users’ smartphones.
“The transport market has a huge potential in Europe. Around 185 million passengers travel every week in the European Union, representing about 57.6 billion trips per year. This investment made by the Barraqueiro Group and Beatriz Barata is not just a milestone for our company, but a sign that the transport market is ready for new and innovative solutions that make the transport systems better, more efficient and more intelligent for all people, ”says Paulo Ferreira dos Santos, CEO of Ubirider.
A specialist in the design and implementation of innovative mobility solutions for people and goods, the Barraqueiro Group carries over 300 million passengers on an annual basis. “In Ubirider’s solution, we saw the future of passenger transport,” declared Artur Pedrosa, Member of the Board of the Barraqueiro Group. “This is something we were looking for, not only to make the travel experience significantly better, more integrated and simpler, but also to obtain valuable information on travel trends. Having access to this kind of intelligent data will allow us to provide new and better routes and other services to our passengers, and, ultimately, to lead the future of transports. ”
The Guanabara Group carries more than 2 million people per day in Brazil. “We have been looking for technologies that allow us to improve the service quality and the operational efficiency,” said Beatriz Barata, who invested individually in Ubirider. “Ubirider’s solutions serve both purposes and were also designed to operate at a global level, which will allow us to manage key aspects of our operations in Portugal and Brazil, such as mobile charge of fares or managing passengers flow under one platform. ”
In addition to the investments made, Ubirider has just signed the first commercial agreement with Scotturb, which will allow the Pick platform’ users to travel on the new express buses that connect Cascais, Sintra and Porto on a daily basis, as well as to benefit from the tourist buses that travel in Cascais and Sintra (sightseeing buses). Tickets will be available for sale from 27 September.
“Online sale of tickets for long journeys and tourist buses has increased significantly over the last few years. We are convinced that passengers from all over the world want to go further and to manage their trips through an easy-to-use mobile application, so this partnership with Ubirider is very exciting for us. With this agreement, we will offer our passengers a complete tool for the management and payment of trips, ensuring the best experience and allowing us to maintain our focus on innovation and service quality, ”explains Beatriz Barata, CEO of Scotturb.
This investment marks the first foreign investor and the first commercial client of Ubirider.
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