Galway-based public transport data company CitySwift has expanded into the Asia-Pacific (APAC) market by partnering with Citybus, a leading bus operator in Hong Kong.
Since its foundation in 2016, CitySwift has operated in Ireland, the UK and the US and recently secured its largest deal to date, providing data solutions to Transport for London.
Citybus operates services for 1.1m passengers per day across Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories. The company has a fleet of over 1,700 buses and more than 5,00 employees.
CitySwift will use AI and data improve bus service reliability and deliver a better customer experience, and Citybus will also set up a new AI-driven operations control centres.
In addition to reducing excess wait times, balancing supply and demand, and enhancing overall operational efficiency, the partnership is also expected to lower costs through employee and vehicle efficiency improvements.
“Citybus’s goals and vision align with our mission to increase patronage by offering more frequent and reliable bus services, and to make public transport the preferred choice for all," said Alan Farrelly, CCO and co-founder of CitySwift.
"We are thrilled to partner with Citybus, helping them achieve this objective through our transport data solutions as we work together to shape the smart cities of the future.”
Richard Hall, managing director of Citybus, said CitySwift's AI-powered performance management platform would help the company to deliver "an even more customer centric, efficient and agile network based on our strong operating foundations.
"We look forward to this new partnership with CitySwift and delivering an enhanced operating model achieving even greater outputs and ultimately a stronger and higher quality customer proposition, enhancing our business and growth opportunities in the future.”
CitySwift works with public sector transport authorities and private bus operators to improve access and interpretation of transport data to make public transport more efficient and appealing to the public.
"Across the world, operators are looking for ways to make bus networks more efficient, reliable, and sustainable, and data-driven technology is proving to be the key," said CitySwift CEO Brian O’Rouke on the announcement.
"At CitySwift, we are committed to helping cities and operators harness the power of AI to optimise routes, reduce emissions, and improve passenger experience.
"Our expansion into the APAC market is a direct response to the growing need for smarter public transport and we’re excited to bring our expertise to the region at a time when the world is looking for innovative ways to make mobility more sustainable."
Accounts for CitySwift's operating company, Huddl Mobility Ltd, show the company had net assets of €5.5m at the end of 2023 after annual losses narrowed from €3.1m to €2.8m.
Prior to a €7m funding round led by Gresham House last February, CitySwift closed a €5.5m Series A round in October 2022.
Photo: Richard Hall, managing director Citybus and Alan Farrelly, CCO and co-founder, Cityswift. (Pic: Supplied)
