TrustRadius: an HG Insights company

Optibus

Score8.5 out of 10

4 Reviews and Ratings

Get a Demo

What is Optibus?

Optibus is a unified software platform for public transportation planning and operations. Agencies and operators of cities worldwide can use Optibus to improve service quality and efficiency, promote transportation access and equity, reduce emissions and costs, and modernize their operations.

Read more details.

Categories & Use Cases

Media

Screenshot of the Scheduling module, capable of driving complex and large-scale transit operations, It is useful for planning and scheduling the movements of every driver and vehicle, as well as discovering the best option and reduce costs. With Optibus’ Scheduling module, users can: ● Quickly run multiple scenarios to select the optimal option ● Set custom rules and preferences (such as relief vehicles, break preferences and more) ● Create schedules to help increase driver retention and satisfaction ● Optimize vehicles, drivers, and even relief cars at the same time
Screenshot of Optibus' specialized Electric Vehicle management, using EV-specific metrics to create the most integrated and optimal operational and charging plan. Here, users can define charging times, locations and minimum battery levels and immediately get a schedule that’s optimized for electric vehicles. Optimizing schedules for Electric Vehicles makes it easier to operate EV routes, meet regulatory requirements and bid for new EV business. Why use Optibus for Electric Vehicles? • Express rules and preferences related to battery use, charging requirements and more • Create an accurate operational schedule that includes the optimal charging times and locations • Valuable access to pre-defined battery and EV Optibus Customer Success best practices • Integrate with and iterate schedules based on EV battery data
Screenshot of Optibus’ Rostering module, which helps to: 1. Bring speed to rostering Here, users can set the rules and constraints that reflect an operation's needs – from weekly route familiarity, day off patterns, overtime, guaranteed time, and rest time between shifts. 2. Gain overtime control Optibus rostering can create weekly shifts for drivers, ensuring their long term retention and satisfaction, while keeping operating costs under control. Address overtime, guaranteed time and uneven balancing of work hours (with some drivers having more hours and some less). 3. Create roster groups and rotating rosters Schedulers can input different driver preferences and cater to a variety of driver needs, while ensuring optimized results for each group separately and across the different groups.
Screenshot of the dashboard for planning, scheduling, rostering, and operational needs. With the Planning, Scheduling, Rostering, and Operations modules, transportation agencies and operators can increase their efficiency and service quality, promote transportation equity, reduce emissions and costs, and modernize their operations.
Screenshot of custom map layers
Screenshot of Optibus’ Planning module, which lets users import data and begin route planning or modifications— from map visualization to satellite and street views, with an integrated timetable that builds rapidly and is validated. Optibus Planning is directly integrated with scheduling and rosters, ensuring quick work on a holistic, cloud-native platform. With Optibus’ Planning module, users can: ● Visualize crucial geographic data, directly on the map ● Evaluate scenarios, their costs, and efficiency KPIs ● Improve vehicle and route efficiency, to save costs while maintaining service level needs ● Optimize routes to maximize PVR, and improve OTP
Screenshot of the Optibus Operations (Ops, for short) depot allocations platform — an operations software that operates in real time, just like buses and drivers do. Optibus Operations integrates with and syncs with incoming data from Optibus Planning, Scheduling, and Rostering. The Optibus Operations module offers the following components: 1. Driver & vehicle management 2. Long-term planning 3. Weekly & daily allocation 4. Timekeeping 5. Payroll 6. Reporting 7. Validations It also integrates with operational data systems, including CAD/AVL, payroll, ticketing, fleet management, and HR through its API.
Screenshot of the operations interface.
Screenshot of the scheduling interface.

1 / 9

Screenshot of the Scheduling module, capable of driving complex and large-scale transit operations, It is useful for planning and scheduling the movements of every driver and vehicle, as well as discovering the best option and reduce costs. With Optibus’ Scheduling module, users can: ● Quickly run multiple scenarios to select the optimal option ● Set custom rules and preferences (such as relief vehicles, break preferences and more) ● Create schedules to help increase driver retention and satisfaction ● Optimize vehicles, drivers, and even relief cars at the same time

Optibus Reviews

What users are saying about Optibus.
View all Optibus reviews

A solid well-tooled product with great support when needed

Verified User
Strategist (51-200 employees employees)

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

Optibus provides a planning and scheduling package to help plan, review, optimize, schedule, block, and run cut our conventional bus network; the solution allows us to flexibly utilize internally generated data based on agency set parameters, as well as import data from common data formats such as Excel tables.
The package is also used to generate data packages for our CAD/AVL system, alongside operational tools such as duty cards and passenger schedule data for end-user publishing.

The solution we are using allows us to move away from fully spreadsheet-based schedules and runcuts which allows for data validation tailored to the industry we work in, significantly reducing human error. This has also allowed us to move away from reliance on third party data preparation, and greater control of the end product.

Pros

  • Optimization of run cutting provides a significant effort reduction, alongside validation that helps avoid parameter errors.
  • The ability to publish the output in various different formats allows us to further customize the final product in familiar formats.
  • Support levels are very good, and while we have only encountered one issue while using the product (which is an endorsement itself), the fix was completed in less than 24 hours.

Cons

  • Some more finely-tuned map generators to allow a passenger-facing map would be a nice to have.

Return on Investment

  • While we have no statistical information available on workloads, we have been able to complete more accurate datasets in a small team and been able to streamline processes, especially with the optimization tools that can shave days off of the workload.

Usability

Shows promise

Verified User
Analyst (201-500 employees employees)

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

We are currently in the implementation and evaluation phase of Optibus within our organization. Our initial use case focuses on bus route operational planning modules and the creation of timetables and schedules, aiming to leverage Optibus solutions to improve our operations through fleet optimization and streamlined planning. So far, the tool has performed exceptionally well and shown great promise in the functions tested. However, as we are still in the system validation and transition process, we will be able to provide fully consolidated and detailed feedback once we complete this testing and finalization stage.

Pros

  • Fleet optimization
  • Operational overview
  • Cost analysis

Cons

  • White screen view

Optibus Alternatives

Products similar to Optibus that may also meet your needs.
View all Optibus alternatives
Trapeze Workforce & Operations Management
CompareLearn more
HASTUS Software, from GIRO
CompareLearn more
Remix Transportation Platform, from Via
CompareLearn more