NextAgent delivers greater efficiency at lower cost to operators — and better service to passengers
GENEVA – May 27, 2013 – Cubic Transportation Systems today announced the launch of NextAgent, a radical new concept in transport ticketing using high-speed video links to let passengers interact with ticketing staff in real time, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The solution will be demonstrated at the International Association of Public Transport (UITP) World Congress & Mobility and City Transport Exhibition, May 27-30, Geneva, Cubic Stand 2D300, and at the APTA Rail Conference Product Showcase, Philadelphia, June 2-3, Cubic Booth 404.
NextAgent – an innovative hybrid of ticket office, call center and ticket vending machine – enables transit operators to respond to a number of significant trends in ticketing. These include a preference from some passengers for the option, be it occasionally or regularly, of purchasing tickets from people as well as machines. The fact that some journeys and individual requirements are very complex leads some travelers to feel more comfortable dealing with a knowledgeable ticketing agent than with a ticket vending machine. According to some estimates, these factors mean ticket offices will continue to fulfill as much as 30 percent of ticket sales for the foreseeable future. At the same time, staffing ticket offices across an operator’s network outside peak travel hours is expensive and ties up staff, restricting their deployment in other roles.
NextAgent enables operators to balance these competing demands cost effectively by locating ticketing expertise in centralized ticketing “hubs” to which all passengers have access whenever they are traveling. Alternatively and for maximum flexibility in resourcing, agents across the network can be available to manage demand between busy stations and those with fewer passengers on a minute-by-minute basis.
Instead of the normal ticket office window, NextAgent features a high-definition glass screen on which it displays a live video of the ticket agent at the hub. Passengers speak with the agent throughout the ticketing process – exactly as they would at a traditional ticket window.
NextAgent delivers all the functionality of a staffed ticket office, plus a number of other benefits, including vending a comprehensive range of media (smart cards, magnetic tickets, paper barcodes, e-ticketing, and mobile ticketing). Integrated camera and document scanning facilities enable photos and other personal documents to be verified. NextAgent’s smart card management system encompasses sale and issue of cards, processing refunds and returns, and transferring products between cards. It also supports the full range of payment options, from notes and coins to credit/debit cards and NFC-enabled smartphones.
“NextAgent is not only a major advance in ticketing, it’s a concept that’s rooted in Cubic’s understanding of what works in ticketing – for both passengers and operators,” said Matt Cole, senior vice president, strategy and business development at Cubic. “We are bringing to market technology that will appeal to all passengers: mobile ticketing for those that would prefer to self-serve and NextAgent for those passengers that want the option of consulting knowledgeable ticketing staff to get the right ticket at the right price.”
“Centralized ticketing with NextAgent enables operators to provide the optimum combination of service and cost. On the one hand, it reduces the cost of staff having to be deployed in ticket offices. On the other, it enhances customer service by, for example, ‘pooling’ specialist expertise – foreign languages, for instance – and ensuring a uniform level of high-quality service across the network. In turn this will lead to more passengers and higher revenues.”
About Cubic Transportation Systems
Cubic® Transportation Systems, Inc., is part of Cubic Corporation. Cubic Corporation is the parent company of three major business segments: Defense Systems, Mission Support Services and Transportation Systems. Cubic Defense Systems is a leading provider of realistic combat training systems and defense electronics. Mission Support Services is a leading provider of training, operations, maintenance, technical and other support services for U.S. and allied nations.
Cubic® Transportation Systems, Inc., is a leading integrator of payment and information technology and services for intelligent travel solutions. Cubic delivers integrated solutions that help transport operators manage their operations and services and give passengers choices in the smartest and easiest ways to pay their fares. Cubic specializes in design, development, manufacture, supply, installation, integration, services and information. Services provided by Cubic include on-site management, central systems, operations support, patron support, business support and field services.
Every year, nearly 7 billion rides are taken worldwide using Cubic payment and information systems. Cubic has delivered over 400 projects in 40 major markets on five continents. Active projects include London; Brisbane (Southeast Queensland) region, Australia; New York/New Jersey region; Washington, D.C. /Baltimore/Virginia region; Los Angeles region; San Diego region; San Francisco region; Minneapolis/St. Paul; Chicago; Atlanta region; Miami (South Florida) region; Vancouver and Edmonton, Canada; Sydney (New South Wales), Australia; Germany; and Scandinavia.
For more information about Cubic, see the company’s website at www.cubic.com.
Contacts:
Rosemary Alton/Harriet Jamieson
HAMG360
PH: +44 (0) 20 8289 6216
Rosemary.alton@HAMG360.com
Harriet.jamieson@HAMG360.com
Timothy A. Hill
Director of Corporate Communications
Cubic Corporation
PH: +1 (858) 505-2430
Cell: +1 (858) 232-2927
timothy.hill@cubic.com