Recently we had an opportunity to speak with Martin Staples, the CEO at Transportant about BusCompass
Please share with us the backstory of what motivated you to create this app.
The idea for the Bus Compass app stemmed from a striking realization in Kansas City, where we found that students spent over 100,000 hours in a single year simply waiting for their buses to arrive. This inefficiency had a direct impact on students' time and safety, as well as on parents' peace of mind. Hearing countless parents and students ask, "If the bus is going to be late, can we at least know that?" sparked the drive to create an app that could provide real-time, reliable information, minimizing uncertainty and making the school commute safer and more predictable.
How is your app different than the rest of the market? Which unique need does it fill?
Bus Compass stands out from other bus tracking apps due to its commitment to accuracy and reliability. While many alternatives in the market struggle with outdated or inaccurate data, which can be more frustrating than helpful, Bus Compass is built on a foundation of high-quality, real-time information. We empower schools with the tools to maintain data integrity and hygiene, ensuring that parents, students, and school administrators can trust the information they receive. Our app transforms the school bus experience by offering reliable tracking that enhances safety and reduces anxiety.
What is the coolest or most innovative feature of your app?
One of the most innovative features of Bus Compass is its intelligent approach to security and convenience. To ensure privacy and safety, the app only displays the bus's exact location when it's in close proximity to the student's stop. At other times, users receive tailored notifications, such as "Your bus is 2 stops away," allowing them to prepare without compromising their privacy. This feature not only protects students but also offers parents and students the convenience of timely alerts, enhancing the overall experience.
Further, the app offers flexibility to school districts, allowing them to modify the data presented to parents based on what they believe would be most beneficial. For example, districts can choose to overlay a trace of the school bus's route, so parents can see the path the bus must take to get to their stop, not just its current location. This feature is particularly useful for families living in subdivisions with many roads and complex bus routes, as it helps them better understand the timing and route of their child’s bus.
What has been the most rewarding aspect of the creation of this app?
The most rewarding aspect of developing Bus Compass has been seeing the positive impact it has had on both schools and families. Schools have reported improved bus ridership due to the enhanced reliability and predictability of catching the bus. For instance, in Bentonville, AR, the implementation of the Bus Compass app led to a significant reduction in the number of calls from parents, as they could now rely on the app to keep them informed. The app's push notification feature allows schools to communicate directly with parents, and parents can see exactly when and where their students boarded and exited the bus. This is especially critical for working parents who rely on this information for their older children who take the bus independently.
What surprised you most in your journey to create this app?
One of the biggest surprises during the development of Bus Compass was the level of complexity involved in integrating real-time data across a vast network of buses while ensuring user privacy and data security. We learned that creating a seamless user experience required not only robust technology but also close collaboration with school districts to understand their specific needs and challenges.
Additionally, we were pleasantly surprised by the significant impact the app has had on both parents' and students' lives. The convenience and reliability of the app have not only eased parents' concerns but have also led to an improvement in student ridership on the bus. Seeing how our technology has made such a positive difference in daily routines has been incredibly rewarding and continues to drive our passion for innovation in school transportation.
How did you decide which platforms to release your app on and do you plan on releasing your app to other platforms?
We recognized early on that accessibility was key to the success of Bus Compass, which is why we made the app available on all major platforms, including older versions of Android that students often use. Our goal was to ensure that every student and parent, regardless of the device they own, could benefit from the app. While the app is already widely accessible, we continuously evaluate new platforms and technologies to expand our reach and improve user experience.
Which other mobile apps or technology have inspired you?
We drew inspiration from popular rideshare apps like Lyft and Uber, which revolutionized how people think about transportation. Our vision was to bring that same level of convenience, reliability, and real-time tracking to school buses, creating a user-friendly experience that students, parents, and schools could rely on.
Moreover, we translated key security features from these rideshare apps into Bus Compass, such as knowing exactly what car and driver to look for. This concept was adapted to give parents peace of mind by ensuring that their child is getting on the right bus with the right driver. By adopting these best practices, we designed Bus Compass to not only be intuitive and responsive but also to provide an added layer of security, which is crucial for the safety and well-being of students.
What features do you hope to roll out to your app in the future?
Looking forward, we are excited about the potential to enhance the environmental and operational efficiency of school transportation. One feature we're exploring is allowing students and parents to notify the school in advance if the student won't be riding the bus on a particular day. By integrating this information into the bus routing system, we can reduce unnecessary stops, save fuel, and minimize environmental impact while also saving time and resources for school districts.
Do you have any recommendations or advice for others wanting to create a mobile app?
Our advice to anyone looking to create a mobile app is to invest significantly more time than you might expect in talking to your users. Understanding their needs, pain points, and behaviors is crucial to building a product that truly resonates with them. User feedback is invaluable at every stage of development, from initial concept to post-launch improvements, and it’s the key to creating an app that people love and rely on.