Greater Manchester introduces IMOVE MaaS pilot

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has introduced a new Mobility as a Service (MaaS) platform, powered by Fleetondemand’s Mobilleo app.

The pilot project, named IMOVE, was established to create an integrated travel solution for the people of Manchester by improving the way that different modes of transport work together in the city.

It is expected to reduce traffic congestion and encourage shared and active travel by allowing passengers to manage their journeys using a single application

TfGM worked closely with Fleetondemand’s Mobilleo platform to consolidate multiple modes of transport for the project into a single IMOVE branded app. The bespoke IMOVE app provides travellers with instant access to car hire, car clubs, trains, buses, Metrolink trams and TfGM’s Local Link Service allowing them to plan, book and pay for each journey conveniently using any iOS or Android device.

The technological provision for the IMOVE project was enhanced by support from members of the Urban Mobility Partnership (UMP), a multi-modal transport partnership, which includes founding members Enterprise Holdings representing the car and car share modes.

Sam Li, senior innovation officer at TfGM, said: “The IMOVE pilot project is helping people who work in and around Manchester use the most effective mode of transport to get to their destinations, which includes commuting to and from work and business-related journeys. Its purpose is to encourage a positive change in travel habits, encouraging people to leave their own car at home and use shared or public transport, walk and cycle.”

Fleetondemand is providing dedicated customer support to compliment the IMOVE app, digital marketing communications to engage with its end users and a data platform that offers instant access to detailed management reporting information. The insight captured by the IMOVE app during the pilot phase of the project will help TfGM learn about the benefits of MaaS and any potential barriers to its effective deployment on a regional scale.

Ross Basnett, strategic account director at Fleetondemand, said: “By tailoring a bespoke version of our Mobilleo software for IMOVE and linking together all the different transport options available to travellers in Manchester, we’re proving how it’s possible to cut congestion and improve air quality in a way that can be rolled out right across Greater Manchester.”

In Addition to the IMOVE project for Greater Manchester, there are four other European Living Labs located in Berlin, Madrid, Turin, and Gothenburg, currently investigating and validating IMOVE trials.