What other factors will determine the success of MaaS?
On the technical side, there are two basic enablers. Firstly, availability and sharing of high quality data is a major precondition for the success of MaaS. This means data sets that are precise and mostly in real time. And secondly, service integration enabling mobility services from various parties to be brought together. Here, improving interoperability will be key.
In terms of market rules and regulations, the most important elements are privacy and data sharing. One way to encourage MaaS is to make sure the data is shared in a secure environment. But further innovation is needed to facilitate data sharing.
For MaaS to work we also need to adopt new business and collaboration models allowing profits and risk to be shared on an equal basis. It’s vital that every stakeholder is happy with the model used because you cannot expect anyone to come on board if the platform doesn’t offer them any added value. So public authorities need to see MaaS as a means to improve delivery of their transport policy goals, whilst operators need to see MaaS as a means to drive revenue.
What role do you think public transport authorities should play?
I fully understand that MaaS may be challenging for PTAs since it opens up a completely new operational environment. Cities and regions have traditionally played a strong role in transport policy decision-making and regulation, with responsibilities often including funding of infrastructure, services and procurement.
Today the whole mobility market is evolving much faster and in a less controllable way than before. MaaS is just one example of this change alongside others. Electric scooter services, for instance, can pop up in the streets overnight without authorities necessarily being informed. Obviously, this fast-changing mobility landscape is challenging to navigate. I think mobility decision-makers should focus on defining goals and conditions for MaaS in their region. Public authorities have a key role in defining the collaboration culture between the different MaaS stakeholders and monitoring the market dynamics to anticipate problems and avoid backlashes.