My first ever… Design Thinking / Prototype
I was assigned to tackle some of UrbanGO’s (Citymapper as a reference) daily user hassles, such as the different types of public transport tickets that come in paper or plastic cards, leading to queues, malfunctioning vending machines, and difficulties in getting the right price when abroad. The only requirement I had was to be creative! As I began to think about how to solve these problems, I generated a few ideas based on the feedback and recommendations I received during the interview process.
The major points taken from those interviews were the continuous generation of waste through paper and plastic tickets and the inconvenience of having to physically pay at vending machines, when the actually work. With that in mind, I started brainstorming, taking into consideration the use of the app. The ideas I believe would help address these problems is the creation of a digital ticket linked to users’ bank accounts. This way, users only need to reload the ticket and have a balance to purchase tickets, solving the first problem.
The next issue, having to physically buy tickets at vending machines, could be addressed by integrating a ticketing system(Ticket Express), which utilizes GPS technology to simplify your journey. As you navigate your route, the system intelligently prompts you to purchase the required tickets for your transit, whether it’s for trains, buses, or other modes of transportation. At the bottom of this prompt, you’ll find the option to buy the ticket right from the App with the right price no matter where in the world you are. Upon accepting the prompt to purchase a ticket, the system seamlessly deducts the fare amount from your TCC (Ticketless Transport Card, digital card) balance. Alternatively, if you prefer to pay physically at the vending machines, you can conveniently link your TCC to the payment platforms like Google Play or Apple Pay for a hassle-free transaction experience. This new approach ensures a smooth and efficient travel experience, giving the users the flexible and payment options, eliminating the need for multiple ticket purchases along the way point A to point B.
This feature (TTC) will also give the user peace of mind with transaction receipts automatically sent to your email or phone, along with the ability to turn GPS location on or off.
Like a mention on the title, this is my first time, all the feedback and recomentaions are welcome.
