New York software company Optibus has completed the digital transformation of First Bus, one of the UK’s largest bus operators, to improve its scheduling data, processes and systems across all UK operations.

The roll-out of Optibus across First Bus will help all its operating companies improve the service and operational efficiency of 4000 buses across Glasgow, Bristol, Essex, Yorkshire, Cornwall and more, leading to improved services for over one million daily passengers and smoother, faster work processes for dozens of schedulers.

First Bus’ migration to Optibus has achieved operational savings across all its UK operations, as well as simplified the process of making network changes and improved the lives of schedulers.

First Bus now has the capability to be more agile with network decision making and explore enhancement to work patterns and rosters using duty optimisation algorithms and an automated rostering product, bringing real-time and localised options to the UK public transport industry.

“We are delighted to have rolled out Optibus’ innovative new software across our UK business,” said Simon Pearson, First Bus chief commercial officer. “The implementation will improve the lives of our staff and our customers while making us more agile as a business in facing challenges and delivering the best possible service. We look forward to continuing to work in partnership with the team at Optibus to discover opportunities for improvement and to push the UK public transport industry forward.”

First Bus and Optibus share the vision of more efficient public transportation operations. In this regard, as a long-time partner of Optibus, First Bus has shaped Optibus’ products just as much as Optibus has shaped First Bus’ UK operations.

Over the course of their five-year partnership, First Bus has tested many Optibus features in live environments, helping tailor the product to real-life scenarios and challenges faced by operators across the UK, spanning electric vehicle deployment, cost efficiency and effective network redesign to meet new travel patterns.

“Making public transportation better requires input from operators, drivers and schedulers on the frontlines of daily operations,” said Dave Joshua, Optibus’ general manager in Emea. “First Bus has been a valuable partner in helping Optibus to develop custom technology for the UK public transport market, and beyond. We are grateful for their insight and are proud to count them as one of our partners in making public transportation better, together.”

Optibus is an end-to-end, cloud-native software platform for transportation planning, scheduling, rostering and operations, powered by artificial intelligence (AI) and optimisation algorithms. Transportation agencies and operators in 1000 cities worldwide use Optibus to increase efficiency and service quality, promote transportation equity, reduce emissions and costs, and modernise their operations.