Veolia has taken on a new software solution to integrate its bus business, with NSW testing the system across its finance and operations divisions
By David Goeldner | July 30, 2010
The loop is closing in bus and coach information management as two of NSW’s largest operators get set to implement the first phases of a new software solutions system.
Moore Stephens Technology Australia has secured CDC Cabcharge, the operators of Sydney’s Westbus, and Veolia Transport as the first to sign off on their new Bus and Coach Solutions system (BaCS) package.
Veolia Transport NSW Managing Director Morris Caputi says having the BaCS system in place will give each part of the operation a compatible interface.
Before BaCS came along, Veolia used different software systems for each part of their operation.
The BaCS Microsoft-based interface means everyone connected with running software will ‘talk’ to each other for the first time.
He says software systems developed by the trucking industry, for example, are useful for fleet and operation management, but they might fall short in financial reporting and payroll.
“Accident data and issues around safety are also captured by BaCS,” Caputi says.
“BaCS does everything.”
Caputi says having one system that can integrate charter bookings, driver schedules, bus maintenance, payroll and human resource requirements all in one interface is a big advantage in terms of streamlining group operations.
“It will close the IT loop across the entire transport division,” he says.
Each department will use BaCS, but keep to their own modules, generating information which can be fed through the system.
“This can’t be done when you use a mix of different software systems for various bus and coach management needs,” he says.
Caputi says the NSW operation is the first section of Veolia’s national network to implement the system, which is still in development.
It will eventually roll out to other centres, notably Brisbane and Perth where the group has significant bus and coach interests.
Veolia’s financial – payroll and HR – side is almost ready to use BaCS, with fleet operations starting their development phase soon after the completion of a series of operational and maintenance workshops.
Caputi expects the efficiencies gained from BaCS will be felt almost immediately after roll-out, streamlining the group’s expanding bus and coach business.