Smart Cities, Smart Solutions

Smart cities are technologically modern urban areas that are paving the way for the future. These areas leverage advanced technology and aggregated data to drive innovation to optimize the performance of their social, environmental, institutional and economic systems to produce more effective and efficient outcomes for their residents. 

This is a shared goal of Hop In Technologies, a Canadian software company that is looking to improve transit efficiency and transportation outcomes around the world by rethinking the movement of people and goods in the urban context. Using our bespoke Mobility as a Service (MaaS) platform, Hop In is collectively working to transform the urban landscape and transportation ecosystem one commute at a time. 

To do so, Hop In collects and aggregates data and infrastructure insights to develop and implement mobility solutions that address existing gaps in service to change the way employers and employees, residents and communities interface with transit solutions to accelerate urban innovation and bring Smart City mobility initiatives to life.

Revolutionizing the commute with MaaS

MaaS is a revolutionary, on-demand platform that leverages existing transportation infrastructure to address challenges of modal efficiency. Using this low-cost, high value solution, Hop In picks up with public and private transit networks leave off, filling gaps in service with micro-transit solutions in the interest of smart mobility. 

By its very nature, the platform is designed to integrate trip planning end-to-end (booking, ticketing and payment) and it provides real-time information at the user’s fingertips and it can do so without the need for a major overhaul in operational processes.  

Hop In’s comprehensive platform is designed to do all the work, in turn, it improves the quality of life for residents and workers who are faced with long commutes and inconsistent or unreliable transit options and creates more environmentally friendly and socially inclusive communities. 

MaaS reduces the need for single occupancy vehicles, reduces reliance on parking infrastructure and supports organizations and municipalities in the achievement of their environmental and sustainability goals which leads to improved productivity and satisfaction, stronger employee attraction and retention efforts, facilitates a greater work-life balance, and ultimately, company success: a pretty incredible use of technology to fulfill Smart City initiatives.

MaaS in Action: Madrid, Spain

Spain, particularly the monocentric Madrid Metropolitan Area (MA), is a perfect case study to demonstrate the value of MaaS in action. The area has rapidly urbanized and is comprised of 27 municipalities across 5,335 square kilometers. It is home to a population of 6.6 million people, many of whom commute using the extensive multi-modal transit network that is available.   

Municipalities in Spain are responsible for the preparation and implementation of Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMPs), otherwise referred to as Planes de Movilidad Urbana Sostenible (PMUS), however these responsibilities are only compulsory in Cataluña, which means there are no guidelines or frameworks for how this is achieved. 

Given its composition, Madrid not only has a strong focus on integrated policy-making in the context of spatial, environmental and transportation strategies, for instance, the provision of expansive and inclusive public transit, low-emissions zones and parking license restrictions, there is a strong overall attitude to MaaS, public transit and shared mobility, which is key to its successful adoption and deployment.

MaaS is a key Smart Mobility Scheme in Europe’s Strategic Transport Research and Innovation Agenda, which is a transportation strategy built upon four core ideas: integration, the move from an ownership-based to access-based transportation paradigm, a focus on user-centricity and digitalization and integration using a single digital platform. 

MaaS is viewed as a great way to enhance the passenger experience, especially for those who live in the periphery or suburban zones where transit is unreliable for last-mile trips. Its adoption accelerates efforts to reduce single vehicle ownership and congestion, improve work-life balance and better meet environmental and social objectives of the municipality.   

To take advantage of this strong transit infrastructure and rich transit culture, Hop In recently launched an office in Madrid which will set the stage for its eventual rollout and expansion across the European market where there is a need for a comprehensive digital solution to further optimized transportation networks and infrastructure.

Hop In Addresses the Gaps In Transit

By inherently understanding the needs of a community, which is achieved through the collection and aggregation of data and infrastructure insights, Hop In bridges the gap between existing public and private transit offerings to mobilize entire workforces and communities to create tailored routes that broaden transit access and result in safer, more inclusive and environmentally conscious communities. 

Using our comprehensive suite of technology including a rider app, driver app and corporate dashboard, riders can plan, book and pay for their trips in real-time, saving time and money in the process, while organizations and municipalities can better address infrastructure challenges, optimize the management of resources and drive greater value.   

Aggregated data and analytics, including location data, commuting data and target population, are the foundation for the development of new routes which are designed to supplement existing transportation networks and are tailored to include key points to increase accessibility from which the micro-transit solutions are launched, deployed and optimized, managed from one comprehensive digital platform.

Using this approach, Hop In is improving connectivity by addressing mobility challenges and connecting companies, organizations and entire communities to support more efficient, effective and well-thought out transportation networks for improved commutes, an elevated quality of life, and a more sustainable future, one organization and one community at a time.


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