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NMBS Train+

Making train ticket prices clear with NMBS Train+

The main goal of NMBS Train+ is to learn more about the needs of their travelers through the Train+ discount card and to promote off-peak travel. To improve transparency and encourage smarter travel habits, we worked together to develop an app that helps travelers easily find the best ticket options. This new application allows users to see the lowest available price based on their trip plans and any discounts they qualify for.

Tech
  • React
  • Node.js
  • PHP

Challenge

NMBS aimed to simplify the understanding of ticket prices for its customers. Many travelers struggled to understand the pricing rules. These rules change based on when you travel and whether you have discounts, such as the Train+ discount card. The challenge was to create a simple tool that would show travelers the best price without overwhelming them with details.

The solution

To solve this problem, we built an easy-to-use app that helps travelers find the best ticket prices. The key features include:

  • Automatic price calculation: Users enter their departure and arrival locations, and the app instantly displays different pricing options for a given category.

  • Clear ticket choices: The app displays various prices, including standard tickets and discounts available with subscriptions, such as the Train+ discount card.

  • Helpful explanations: Interactive tooltips provide extra details about pricing options.

  • Incentivizing off-peak travel: The app highlights the benefits of off-peak pricing, making it easier for users to understand when they can travel at a lower cost and encouraging them to adjust their travel behavior accordingly.

Our approach

To build this app quickly and efficiently, we used the same backend technology as the NMBS Flex Abo App, which we had previously developed. This allowed us to reuse existing infrastructure and speed up development. Our approach included:

  • Future-proof architecture: We built a centralized, shared backend that serves both the Flex Abo calculator and the Train+ app. This architecture is designed to handle future extensions, such as comparing Train+ with other flex formulas, with minimal development effort.

  • Smart Data Sync: Since pricing rules change only 1-2 times a year, we optimized the system for high performance and low maintenance, ensuring fast and reliable results for the user.

  • Creating a custom translation tool: We built a separate translation feature for NMBS based on our existing translation app, fully integrated into their platform.

  • Agile development and testing: We worked closely with NMBS, gathering feedback and making improvements step by step.

  • Boost in off-peak travel: Clear incentives for off-peak travel encourage smarter travel patterns.

The outcome

The NMBS Train+ app now gives travelers a clear view of ticket prices and available discounts. The results include:

  • More transparency: Users can easily understand how ticket prices are determined and which option provides the best value.

  • Fast and reliable technology: By reusing existing code and integrating with NMBS systems, we launched the app in a short time.

"

We work with icapps for a few years now. icapps is a really reliable partner with fantastic and extremely skilled people. They keep on impressing us with high quality and on time project deliverables.

Pascal Limon & Antoine Tilmant NMBS

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