Transport Cluj-Napoca: Streamlined Public Transport with Real-Time Information

"We have been particularly impressed by the client-centered approach that the team members had. "
- Oana Buzatu, Chief of Citizen Information Center Cluj-Napoca

About the app

Transport Cluj-Napoca is a mobile application designed to enhance public transport usage in the Cluj-Napoca metropolitan area.

By providing real-time bus locations, arrival times, and schedule information, the app aims to reduce travel stress, improve journey planning, and ultimately encourage a shift from private to public transportation.

Challenges

As part of the EIT Urban Mobility Raptor project, cities from Regional Innovation Scheme countries are seeking startups and SMEs to help them solve critical urban mobility issues.

Cluj-Napoca, Romania's fastest-growing city, is facing a challenge with increasing reliance on personal cars for daily commutes, resulting in air and noise pollution, and traffic jams. The city's objective is to increase the use of the public bus system connecting the city and surrounding areas. A key issue is the lack of reliability and predictability of the current system.

The challenge is to provide users with access to real-time information on schedule changes, wait times, and destination arrival times to increase the use of buses for daily commutes.

Solutions

Transport Cluj Napoca offers a practical solution by leveraging technology to provide real-time information.

The app utilizes GPS data to track bus locations every five seconds, enabling accurate predictions of arrival times. This information is presented in a user-friendly interface, more specifically an interactive map, allowing commuters to easily plan their journeys and minimize wait times.

The app's prototype received positive feedback from users, with over 90% expressing interest in using the final product. Real-time bus tracking was identified as the most valuable feature, particularly in areas with less frequent bus services.

We were responsible for the entire development process, from initial concept to final product. Our team handled:

  • user research

  • product design

  • quality assurance

  • UX/UI design (created using Sketch)

  • backend development (with Node.js)

  • mobile development (using Swift UI for iOS and Kotlin for Android)

  • project management (including stakeholder management with EIT Urban Mobility and the Cluj-Napoca Municipality).