GIRO’s HASTUS software optimizing bus operations at Qbuzz after fast-track installation

PRLog (Press Release) - Nov. 23, 2009 - GIRO Inc. is pleased to announce the successful deployment of its HASTUS software following an expeditious implementation of the solution at Netherlands-based Qbuzz. HASTUS has been delivering excellent productivity gains since it went into production in Friesland and Rotterdam on November 2, just five months after purchase. GIRO’s bus-stop timetable publication tool, HASTOP, will also be quickly implemented by the December 13th launch of Qbuzz’s bus service in the provinces of Drenthe and Groningen.

The initial HASTUS solution purchased by Qbuzz in June 2009 included the software’s main scheduling modules: Vehicle, Crew, and CrewOpt. The exceptional results produced during the initial stages of implementation demonstrated the flexibility and stability of the scheduling suite and led to the addition of the Roster module for building theoretical driver rotations, as well as the DailyCrew module for managing day-to-day operations.

The DailyCrew module now allows Qbuzz to efficiently plan daily work and manage operations while taking into account factors such as employee absences, vacation time, training, and duty exchanges. The module is also used to ensure compliance with work rules, automatically perform payroll calculations, and produce various reports such as daily statistics, payroll, and monthly worksheets.

This fast-track installation was achieved through concerted efforts by GIRO and Qbuzz to implement the solution within a five-month timeframe. The project teams worked closely together to configure the application to meet Qbuzz’s operational management requirements, which included modelling rules specific to the Dutch transit industry.

“Overall, HASTUS has demonstrated extremely positive results and has provided excellent return on investment since we began using the scheduling software. Adding the DailyCrew and Roster modules was a crucial next step for ensuring efficient operations management,” said Leon Struijk, director and co-founder of Qbuzz. “The GIRO and Qbuzz teams did an excellent job of installing, configuring, and calibrating the software in a very short timeframe. We anticipate the same success for the installation of the HASTOP module when we begin operating new bus services in just a few weeks,” added Struijk.

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About GIRO
GIRO Inc. is a leading provider of software solutions for public transit services including bus, tram, subway, trolley, and commuter rail transportation. The company’s HASTUS solution offers comprehensive applications and innovative tools for improved planning and scheduling, operations, rostering, analysis, and more. HASTUS combines advanced operations research optimization techniques with powerful data management tools that deliver tangible benefits for public transit authorities and private operators around the world. More at www.giro.ca


About Qbuzz
Founded in 2008 by Rob van Holten and Leon Struijk, Qbuzz B.V. is the newest public transport company in the Netherlands. It operates bus services in the southeast of the province of Friesland and around Rotterdam and will begin operating additional bus services in Drenthe and Groningen in December 2009. The company is 49% owned by the Dutch railroads (NS).