Civic Sphere worked with the National Center for Applied Transit Technology (NCATT) in Washington D.C. in partnership with DemandTrans’s office in Chicago, Illinois, USA during 2020-21. The Guidebook is currently available free to the public on NCATT’s Tech University platform.
This Guidebook focuses on specific types of software that are commonly used to facilitate public transport trips for smaller agencies. Such trips take place not only on buses with “fixed” paths, but also on services commonly used by people with disabilities and those 65+ – so-called “demand-response” and “ADA paratransit” services. Learn more about these specialized public transport services.
Client Question:
How can I help small public transport agencies that need to integrate a new software product into their operations?
Civic Sphere’s Response:
Encourage them to follow the steps laid out in the Guidebook: 1) set the software scope, 2) collaborate with the software stakeholders, 3) move forward with a software product, and 4) support the software. By using the worksheets at the end of the Guidebook, the user can also apply the information to their own situation.
From the Guidebook:
"With opportunities also come significant challenges to small transit agencies that wish to take advantage of new software. Whether the software application is focused on internal operations or direct customer interaction, it may lead to—and/or require—significant adjustment in agency processes. Not only will staff need to be educated on how to use the software, but the agency may also need to make important internal changes to accommodate entirely new day-to-day work tasks—even as other tasks are largely automated by the software. Moreover, as the capabilities of available software expand the possibilities of the agency, it may need to create new types of customer or organizational relationships to actualize these possibilities. The purpose of this Guidebook is to enable you and your agency to navigate the way forward in an informed fashion vis-à-vis the enhanced use of software for your services and by your customers."
This Guidebook focuses on specific types of software that are commonly used to facilitate public transport trips for smaller agencies. Such trips take place not only on buses with “fixed” paths, but also on services commonly used by people with disabilities and those 65+ – so-called “demand-response” and “ADA paratransit” services. Learn more about these specialized public transport services.
Client Question:
How can I help small public transport agencies that need to integrate a new software product into their operations?
Civic Sphere’s Response:
Encourage them to follow the steps laid out in the Guidebook: 1) set the software scope, 2) collaborate with the software stakeholders, 3) move forward with a software product, and 4) support the software. By using the worksheets at the end of the Guidebook, the user can also apply the information to their own situation.
From the Guidebook:
"With opportunities also come significant challenges to small transit agencies that wish to take advantage of new software. Whether the software application is focused on internal operations or direct customer interaction, it may lead to—and/or require—significant adjustment in agency processes. Not only will staff need to be educated on how to use the software, but the agency may also need to make important internal changes to accommodate entirely new day-to-day work tasks—even as other tasks are largely automated by the software. Moreover, as the capabilities of available software expand the possibilities of the agency, it may need to create new types of customer or organizational relationships to actualize these possibilities. The purpose of this Guidebook is to enable you and your agency to navigate the way forward in an informed fashion vis-à-vis the enhanced use of software for your services and by your customers."
