Digi International today announced the integration of the Digi Connect WAN 3G cellular router into NetCase, an on-board ticketing system with a touchscreen PC from NetControl. The French specialist in on-board computer systems for the tourism industry installed the NetCase in 35 of the buses owned by OpenTour, the Société des Lignes Touristiques created by Cityrama, that offers sightseeing tours in Paris, Nice, Lyon, etc.
The Connect WAN 3G connects the NetCase to the NetControl servers via high-speed data connectivity over standard cellular networks. Once connected, the NetCase facilitates on-board ticket sales, card payments using payment terminals, the collection of prepaid tickets and vouchers, and the validation of electronic tickets identified by a reservation code (the tickets are validated using a 2D barcode scanner).
“With the recommendation of M2M Design, a French distributor and technical support provider for M2M solutions, we chose this solution from Digi International because it could be implemented almost immediately as it is so easy to connect to our NetCase,” says Nicolas Bebawi, Computer Manager at NetControl. “Digi Connect WAN 3G provides high-quality connectivity with built-in management. Furthermore, the fact that Digi products are used by many retailers and well-established companies was very reassuring.”
Digi Connect WAN 3G is said to facilitate a rapid, regular and practically guaranteed data transfer. Ticket validation by the server and the transfer of card payment details are carried out in real time, which greatly reduces the time it takes for passengers to board the buses. In addition, the improved data transfer for ticket validation enables the OpenTour Company to protect its system from all types of fraud.
Digi Connect WAN 3G enables data transfer for the complete vehicle fleet management with constant connection to the till for sales analysis and validation. It also allows fleet movements to be analysed in real time by means of data transfer, which provides a record of each vehicle’s trips, and offers constant monitoring by surveillance cameras and door sensors in order to improve bus security.
Nicolas Bebawi concludes: “Thanks to Digi Connect WAN 3G’s reliability, the NetCase has become an all-round effective piece of equipment for OpenTour as it manages various operational parameters in real time. Our provision of an on-board computerised ticketing system in the OpenTour buses has become a benchmark for quality and operations in the field of sightseeing tours.”