Victorian operator Ventura Bus Lines has upgraded its fleet technology, turning to Samsung to improve its GPS and hardware capabilities.
Ventura’s fleet of more than 900 vehicles that transport more than 42 million passengers annually has switched its in-vehicle tablets, reinvigorating its technology from navigation to schedule adherence and student manifest management.
By turning to Samsung’s MX Rugged Series and rolling out the Galaxy Tab Active3 across 950 vehicles in partnership with BusWise, the focus was on implementing robust technological solutions to streamline processes.
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While previously Ventura drivers were reporting issues with essential tasks like maintaining bus schedules, managing navigation and handling electronic student manifests, the operator wanted a solution that offered a larger screen and robust speakers to ensure effective navigation.
Additionally, it also wanted drivers to seamlessly integrate RFID technology for student ID cards into the electronic manifests.
Since changing to Samsung, Ventura has reported improved GPS reliability, enhanced route management, seamless RFID integration, durability, centralised device management and rapid deployment across its fleet with no disruption to operations.
Ventura’s planning and development manager Hayden Matthews says the team evaluated a range of devices before selecting Samsung’s tablets for their screen size, speaker quality and accessory ecosystem.
“We assessed a range of potential replacement options, including industrial Android devices, iOS and retail Android devices,” Matthews says.
The move also coincides with news in June that Ventura’s owner, Keppel Infrastructure Trust, divested a near 25 per cent stake in the operator to private investment funds managed by Samsung Asset Management for $130 million.
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