Bringing сonvenience to school commutes – Accurate bus arrival notifications
Project Overview
BusStop is an innovative real-time school bus tracking app, created to solve the problem presented by our client.
Together, we shaped the idea into an effective solution, and our team took full responsibility for the technical implementation, turning it into a convenient and powerful mobile application.
The Challenge and the Idea
It’s 2021. You can see your pizza delivery in real-time, but you can’t see when your kids bus is coming? Well now you can! We decided to fix this injustice!
BusStop is a platform that provides parents with accurate information about school bus arrivals, both in the morning and afternoon. At the same time, drivers benefit from a convenient tool that helps minimize stress, optimize stop times, and earn additional income.
The app operates on a subscription model, where parents pay a small monthly fee, part of which is allocated to drivers as additional income.
Functionality
BusStop uses GPS on the driver’s smartphone to calculate the Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA) for school buses in real time. This allows parents to know exactly when the bus will arrive, reducing stress and improving morning and afternoon transportation routines.
How Does BusStop Work?
For Drivers:
- Install the app and register with verified driver status.
- The GPS tracker automatically starts when the route begins for accurate real-time tracking.
- After the route is completed, the GPS turns off automatically to save battery life.
- Earnings depend on the number of parents subscribed.
For Parents:
- Download the app and enter school bus details.
- Subscribe to gain access to real-time bus tracking.
- Monthly payments are automatically deducted via iTunes, with the option to cancel anytime in settings.
The Solution
Reliable technical implementation:
We ensured the reliable operation of the tracker with geospatial data, the app’s functionality in offline mode, and developed additional native modules for stable and accurate GPS performance on Android in React Native. Additionally, we applied machine learning to determine stops along routes and predict arrival times.
Data Security:
To protect the personal data of parents and drivers while using GPS, we collected and stored location data only when users were actively tracking buses.
The locations were stored only for the duration of the app’s operation.
From the drivers’ side, the tracker is activated only with their confirmation and remains active only during the trip.
Payment Integration:
We implemented a renewal subscription for iOS and Android using RevenueCat to ensure a seamless payment experience for users and use Stripe for driver renewals.
Technologies
- Frontend: React Native(with native modules using Swift and Java)
- State Management: MobX
- Backend: Node.js, Express.js
- Cloud Services: AWS, Firebase
- Mobile Platforms: iOS, Android
- Payment Processing: RevenueCat
Summary
BusStop demonstrates how technology can solve everyday problems and make life more convenient.
The app will provide parents with peace of mind and accurate arrival times, reducing stress, while offering drivers additional income and an efficient route management tool.
Despite challenges related to the pandemic, which temporarily halted the project, the idea remains highly relevant. With the growing demand for safe and efficient child transportation solutions, services like this have great potential for relaunch and further development in the future.
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