Mobility as a Service (MaaS), also known as Transportation as a Service (TaaS) which is a customer-centric solution specially intended for transportation. This is a real-time and on-demand solution which can incorporate any integration of transportation services such as bike and car sharing, car rentals and taxi leases, and offers everything for the consumer from payments to travel planning. In addition, MaaS solution promises to offer real-time alternative to private journeys that helps to reduce traffic congestion by offering shared mobility alternatives. Owing to the rising population acros

Mobility as a Service (MaaS), also known as Transportation as a Service (TaaS) which is a customer-centric solution specially intended for transportation. This is a real-time and on-demand solution which can incorporate any integration of transportation services such as bike and car sharing, car rentals and taxi leases, and offers everything for the consumer from payments to travel planning. In addition, MaaS solution promises to offer real-time alternative to private journeys that helps to reduce traffic congestion by offering shared mobility alternatives. Owing to the rising population across the globe, there are issues related to the congestion causing at a rapid pace. However, by allowing Mobility as a Service and several private and public shared mobility options, people from urban area will be able to travel more efficiently and faster. The system seamlessly integrates all previous transportation alternatives. Moreover, MaaS efficiently manages the transportation requirements of users with the real-time data that is integrated with custom-made services. The rising penetration of smartphone and huge adoption of cashless payment systems is expected to boost the adoption of mobile as a service into coming years.

The system was born in Finland in which it plays a significant role in national transport policy. Thus, a successful MaaS solution also offers innovative business models and options to operate and organize the huge number of transport alternatives, with benefits for transport operators such as access to user and new opportunities and demand information to serve unmet demand. Furthermore, the major objective of the MaaS platform is to offer the various options to use the private car which will be more convenient, sustainable, and reduce constraints and congestion in transport capacity, and it can be cheaper as well. Within the mobile as a service scheme, consumer will purchase a mobility package as per their preferences as well as profiles such as family packages and business packages and make payment accordingly. However, this package will comprise access to the number of trips with the help several transport modes such as number of taxi rides, local public transport, and shared cars. In addition to this, a single mobility app will enable users to search for multiple modal travel services, schedules, pay, and book.

Working of Mobility as a Service

Connectivity plays the crucial role in the adoption of Mobile as a Service solution. However, to achieve improved access of MaaS, following three technologies need to be seamlessly connected:

• Mobile App

It is referred to as a front-end of the mobile as a service platform. From mobile app, customers can plan, book, or make payment for their journey.

• Big Data

Tracing customer behavior on a wide range can help to enhance user experience and offers customers with improved services. Thus, huge amount of data, analyzed by artificial intelligence, manages the MaaS solution and lead to improved and innovative services.

• IoT (Internet of Things), autonomous and connected vehicles

Connected sensors as well as devices employed in cities, AVs (Autonomous Vehicles) and CVs (Connected Vehicles), and the adoption of V2I (Vehicle to Infrastructure) technology that analyzes the vehicles settings and enhances transport experience, all offers MaaS platforms as added data sources.

What MaaS Solution Means for Users, Transport Providers and Cities?

Mobility as a service platforms combines all the stages of traveler’s journey such as journey planning, e-tickets, booking, as well as payments. The service provide an improved user experience which enables them to travel through the transport services such as bus, train, and taxi. In addition, mobile as s service systems are comprised of a mobile application that acts as a front end of the service. From the consumer point of view, mobile as a service offers transparency regarding routes, pricing, as well as transport options. It enables travelers to pay for journey through the plan, or pay via a top-up cards services. For cities, mobile as a service solution helps to reduce congestion, offer data-driven city services, and manages the maintenance of transport services. However, across public transport networks, the service offers travelers additional control and freedom over their journey.

Benefits offered by Mobility as a Service

Benefits of mobile as a service includes:

• Simplified Payments

Mobile as a service user can pay for their transportation through smartwatches, phones, as well as bank cards, on a subscription basis, before or after their journey.

• Easy Route Planning

MaaS offer real-time route planning which enables users to plan their journey with the help of several transport methods, depending on the intelligent suggestions.  

• Less Expensive

With the use of shared resources from public as well as private areas in combination with various autonomous vehicles, the MaaS service offers optimum transportation solutions at a reduced price than the personal vehicle.  

• The Personal Touch

 Mobile as a service solution is a completely personalized service which builds strong relationships among transport providers and the users. With the use of big data, constant user feedback and two-way communication, MaaS solution become the improved consumer-focused transportation platforms.

Future of Mobile as a Service

The digitalization of mobility is ongoing, followed by a continuous growth in the number of different services. However, modern mobility services will remain to develop electric, autonomous, and shared vehicles as well as consumer’s expectations to grow. Furthermore, mobility service will grow more and more to create actual intermodal continuity across the mobility chain. Hence, the user’s choice will rely further on the performance as well as price. In the coming years, mobility as a service solution will help all consumers to make right choice on the basis of personal preferences and their mental and physical capabilities. In the near future, mobility as a service platform will be one of the top indoor/outdoor smart assistant which will offer remove all the barriers of disabilities by providing improved user experience.

Conclusion

Mobility as a service is one of the major shift which has changed the traveling experience with more convenient, sustainable, affordable, and inclusive travelling experience. The rapidly growing radical shifts in the living standards of people across the globe, fundamental changes also needed in the living habits and get around in denser, bigger, cities, and such changes will definitely involve mobility as a service.