Today’s transportation systems are undergoing a profound transformation that will redefine how we get from point A to B
Dubbed the ‘Netflix of transportation,’ Mobility as a Service (MaaS) is a unified platform that caters to all your travel needs, door-to-door, within one simple-to-use application. Unlike Netflix’s library of movies & series, MaaS offers a comprehensive bundle of on-demand transit options like Uber-style ridesharing, “pop-up” bus services and micro-mobility modes like e-scooter and bike sharing. The goal of MaaS is to take you from your first mile to your last in the most efficient and convenient way possible, always keeping you at the centre of this hyper-connected and collaborative universe.
Think of MaaS as an all-in-one ecosystem where various data-driven modes of transportation and mobility cooperate seamlessly for the sole benefit of the user. MaaS enables frictionless journey planning across both public and private transportation, with additional technology providers filling the gaps. For instance, Cubic3 software solutions can optimise routes based on real-time traffic patterns, ensuring a smooth journey. Open communication and data-sharing between all MaaS actors will be crucial to success.
The growing need for innovating mobility services
With urbanisation on the rise, the need for innovative mobility solutions has never been greater. By 2050, the UN estimates that “two out of every three people are likely to be living in cities or other urban centers”. As population centres expand and infrastructure ages, improving public transport becomes central to MaaS. Better utilisation of private vehicles, fleets and existing transport infrastructure will also play a key role. Consider the concept of turning your private car into a money-making asset, like Airbnb, and exploring new revenue models within the automotive industry.
Making sense of MaaS
MaaS is not a one-size-fits-all solution. As a digital platform accessed straight from a smartphone, it allows users to plan, pay and move through their journey using real-time data. Whether through pay-as-you-go options or a monthly subscription with unlimited multimodal transit, MaaS works to optimise journey planning, improving speed, cost and overall efficiency. By 2030, revenues from mobility services are expected to reach almost $1.2 trillion, with potential benefits including reduced road congestion and environmental footprint.
The way MaaS is implemented will vary based on location and local needs, but it will always aim to unify travel options for the benefit of the user. As digital technologies continue to integrate into our daily lives, MaaS players like Cubic3 can enable next-gen communications between vehicles, pedestrians, infrastructure and more – building the foundation for tomorrow’s smart cities. MaaS seeks to make getting from point A to B easy, seamless and cost-effective, no matter where you are.
A collaborative ecosystem
MaaS is about collaboration and co-existence of various players in software, big data, Internet of Things (IoT), connectivity, autonomous vehicles, electrification and intelligent communications. This multi-layered platform – spanning both public and private sectors– can only thrive if everyone moves together with a common purpose. With MaaS, the ultimate measure of success is consumer satisfaction, as user mobility habits will drive the platform forward.
The road ahead
There is no clear roadmap for how MaaS will develop, but once it becomes widespread, it will forever change the way we think about movement. MaaS will disrupt entire industries, but it will also help reinvent them and create exciting new business models. Automakers that effectively transition from manufacturers to service providers will dominate this budding ecosystem.
As we move towards shared mobility, the concept of private car ownership may evolve drastically in the coming decades. With growing awareness of sustainable urban transport, MaaS is set to play a central role in addressing these challenges. Crucially, MaaS will usher in a new era of mobility, helping you get where you want, when you want and how you want.
The integration of these new or enhanced mobility services will require extensive cooperation and collaboration to ensure benefit for all, not just a few. MaaS cannot survive in an environment that’s not fully user centric. While we don’t know yet what this ecosystem will look like or all the benefits and challenges it will bring, one thing is certain: all roads lead to MaaS.
