Design and Implementation of Sms Bus Booking System to Increase Efficiency and Effectiveness of Bus Services: A Case Study of Link Bus Company
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Date
2011-06
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Kampala International University, bachelor's degree of computer science
Abstract
Bus ticketing process in Africa is one of the slowest and time wasting yet it is the mains
means of travel between the capital cities to major towns. Currently use of mobile
telephone is widespread and considerable penetration has been achieved. In Uganda the
application of SMS-based bus ticketing system is yet to be explored. This comes in the
light that Uganda’s bus travel business has grown steadily over time without matching
improvement in ticketing or booking services. For long there has complaints and
dissatisfaction among the public because travelers move long distances to book tickets
and suffer congestion at bus terminals, unnecessary time wasting as a result of misplaced
tickets and unauthorized agents who can cause financial loses. Ticket booking at bus
companies is inherently time consuming, inconvenient and sometimes frustrating for time
conscious passengers and therefore there is need to develop efficient mechanism that
operates through an increasingly available technology like the mobile phone and
specifically through a widely used application like SMS. The study examined SMS bus
booking reduced terminal congestion, minimize time wastage and eliminate unnecessary
expenditure.
Mobile ticketing is the process whereby customers can order, pay for, obtain and validate
tickets from any location and at any time using mobile phones. The passenger downloads
the essential program onto his /her mobile phone. This program allows the passenger to
press a button to send an SMS to server indicating their travel details (Departure Date,
Departure time, Destination Town, Departure Town). An SMS is sent back to
acknowledge receipt, confirmed reservation, or to inform the passenger that no seat or
vehicle is available for that travel time. Payment (fare) may also be implemented by
MOBILE MONEY, Credit cards or Cash. The ‘reply’ SMS contain the bus booking
number for the customer to call.
SMS booking has been steadily employed in different parts of the world to improve the
service industry. Considering the fact that the cost a Mobile Phone is lowering in Uganda
thereby increasing its availability among the population, we can take the advantage of its
SMS application to solve a business requirement so as be able to help the stakeholders
offer quality service in the market place.
Description
A Project Report Submitted To the School Of Computer Studies In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Award Of The Bachelor Degree of Computer Science of Kampala International University
Keywords
Design and Implementation of Sms Bus Booking System, Efficiency and Effectiveness of Bus Services