Integration with local transport authorities for route and schedule updates

Purpose

1.1. Automate the integration between park & ride facility systems and local transport authority data feeds, APIs, or notification endpoints.
1.2. Automatedly retrieve real-time route and schedule updates for public transport services serving the park & ride.
1.3. Automate distribution of updates to users via in-app notifications, email, SMS, or onsite digital signage.
1.4. Ensure commuters receive accurate, automated, and timely transit details to improve journey planning and satisfaction.
1.5. Automate back-office logging of service interruptions, delays, and schedule changes for compliance or analytics.

Trigger Conditions

2.1. Scheduled automation: Polling APIs every set interval (e.g., every 5 minutes).
2.2. Event-based automation: Webhook from authority when schedule/route data changes.
2.3. User-triggered automation: App or kiosk user requests next available departure in real time.
2.4. Emergency automation: Critical disruption or delay triggers immediate update push.

Platform Variants

3.1. Twilio
- Feature/Setting: SMS Notifications
- Automate outbound SMS with transport updates; configure by connecting Twilio Messaging API to webhook or polling automator.
3.2. SendGrid
- Feature/Setting: Transactional Email
- Automatedly send schedule changes to registered users using SendGrid’s Mail Send endpoint.
3.3. Microsoft Power Automate
- Feature/Setting: HTTP connector
- Automate periodic HTTP GET to authority’s transport API; automated condition routes the updates to notification systems.
3.4. Zapier
- Feature/Setting: Webhooks & Formatter
- Automate webhook ingestion and conditional logic to pass data to other channels or databases.
3.5. Google Cloud Functions
- Feature/Setting: Triggered Cloud Function
- Automated code runs on feed update to process and forward to apps or signage endpoints.
3.6. AWS Lambda
- Feature/Setting: Event-driven compute
- Automate parsing of API updates and issuing notifications triggered on schedule or webhook.
3.7. Slack
- Feature/Setting: Incoming Webhooks
- Automatedly post route/schedule changes into team Slack channels for staff awareness.
3.8. Pusher
- Feature/Setting: Channels API
- Automate immediate push of live data to web/mobile apps using Pusher’s real-time web sockets.
3.9. Firebase
- Feature/Setting: Cloud Messaging
- Automated notification delivery to Android/iOS apps with FCM based on schedule changes.
3.10. Microsoft Teams
- Feature/Setting: Webhook
- Automated post sends critical updates to operational Teams channels.
3.11. RapidAPI
- Feature/Setting: Unified transport data endpoints
- Automated polling of standardised transport APIs for streamlined integration.
3.12. Tableau
- Feature/Setting: Web Data Connector
- Automate visualization of delays/disruptions by connecting live feeds.
3.13. Salesforce
- Feature/Setting: Outbound Messaging
- Automate push of disruptions from CRM to commuter segments for proactive alerts.
3.14. IFTTT
- Feature/Setting: Webhook Applets
- Automator for simple trigger-to-action flows (e.g., “if bus delayed, then send notification”).
3.15. HubSpot
- Feature/Setting: Workflow API
- Automatedly create ticket or trigger customer comms on transport updates.
3.16. Facebook Messenger
- Feature/Setting: Send API
- Automated delivery of schedule changes to commuters via Messenger bots.
3.17. WhatsApp Business API
- Feature/Setting: Notification API
- Automate sending real-time updates directly to users on WhatsApp.
3.18. Mailchimp
- Feature/Setting: Transactional Email Automation
- Automatically distribute scheduled service updates to subscriber lists.
3.19. Digital Signage CMS (e.g., ScreenCloud)
- Feature/Setting: API Data Integration
- Automate content switching on displays as new updates are pushed from API.
3.20. Cisco Webex
- Feature/Setting: Bots/Webhooks
- Automated delivery of transport changes and alerts into facility operations channels.

Benefits

4.1. Automated, real-time public transport information flow reduces manual workload for park & ride operators.
4.2. Automation reduces errors and ensures commuters have trustworthy, up-to-date information.
4.3. Automating notifications minimizes uncertainty and improves customer satisfaction and facility reputation.
4.4. Analytics from automated logs and alerts enable data-driven service improvement.
4.5. Automation provides scalable, consistent, and reliable communications during both routine and disruptive events.