An expanded role for digitalisation in the mobility ecosystem

Pre-Covid-19 trends in passenger mobility were already showing a significant change in the behaviour and the choices of the users of the mobility systems. Developments such as the increasing variability of travel patterns, with the reduction of systematic trips, and the reduced orientation to the ownership of transport means, were driving the development of new service and business models, often enabled by expansion of the digitalisation all along the transport chain. Significant segments of the market were also increasingly concerned by the environmental impact of mobility, so that they were showing growing willingness to travel by public transport or by electric shared cars.

The Covid-19 emergency, however, has created a clear disruption in the ongoing trends, acting as accelerator on some areas, but also as game-changer on other aspects of the mobility ecosystem.
One more general effect of the pandemic has been an accelerated building of the digital capacity of the population, thanks to the necessity to learn how to use digital solutions for any aspect of their life, regardless their age, residence or professional conditions.

The expansion of remote working and distance learning have further reduced the systematic trips, and such an effect is not expected to be completely offset by the desired discovery of vaccination or of a fully effective treatment. On the other hand, the growing preference for individual mobility solutions (private car), due to perceived safety issues, has negatively impacted the users’ preference for sustainable mobility solutions, especially in the case of public transport.

This “next normal” framework, and the forthcoming “new normal” we expect after the end of emergency, are therefore a quite new situation, only partially comparable to a simple acceleration of pre-Covid-19 trends.

In such new scenario, digitalisation is likely to play an expanded role. It will not just improve access to real-time information on the transport system, including service level and alternative options, such as an external “observer” who disseminate the knowledge it has (both to the passengers and the operators).

It is likely, instead, to become a “core resource” of the systems, such as the stations, the rolling stock, the personnel etc., with new “missions” related to improve efficiency and flexibility – on the operation side – but also “guiding” actively the customers’ behaviour towards more conscious, safer, and more sustainable choices before, but also during the trips.
Multimodal travel platforms were already developing pre-Covid-19  (even if more slowly than some literature is suggesting), supporting the customers – mainly before the trip – in the selection and purchasing of the most suitable end-to-end mobility solution, and they are now expanding with additional features, such as real-time and forecasted vehicles’ and stations’ occupancy levels. “During the trip” guidance, however, were mainly dependent on physical, relatively static assets or information provided by personnel on the ground, with – in any case – extremely low level of personalisation.

Digital nudging will provide additional capabilities to improve the customer experience during the trip, with smart features allowing a smoother and more pleasant traveling even under continuously changing service and traffic levels. Updated and reliable information, properly transferred to the users through digital solutions, are likely to create a safer and more attractive mobility ecosystem, reducing uncertainties and unnecessary waiting times, as well as triggering a more efficient use of the existing transport capacity.

Paolo will chair the next IRS Rail Webinar. Register now here:
https://www.irits.org/irswebinars/digital-nudge-for-social-distancing

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About the author

Paolo is a Partner at PwC, and global PwC railway transport leader. He has 20+ years of experience in transportation planning, economics and operation, with a significant track record in the railway sector. Paolo has extensive international experience, in particular in Europe, East Asia, the Mediterranean region, Africa, and North America. Holding extensive knowledge in railway organisation, regulation and business planning, he is currently directing innovative projects concerning railway digitalisation in the two key areas of enhancing railway network operation and improving customer experience.