#Japan #Chuo-ku, Tokyo #Public Technologies #LINE Integration #Ai Ride-Sharing

Public Technologies Enhances Ride-Sharing with LINE Integration

Public Technologies, a company focused on optimizing public rideshare and on-demand transport solutions, has announced a significant upgrade to its ride request system, the "PubTech AI Dispatch". This latest enhancement allows residents to book rides directly via LINE, eliminating the need for a dedicated app download. This move aims to streamline the booking process and make ride-sharing more accessible.

Background and Challenges

The driving force behind Public Technologies is its commitment to enhancing mobility in under-served areas. Collaborating with various municipalities, the company has provided solutions for public ridesharing in regions like Komatsu City in Ishikawa Prefecture, Nakagawa City in Ibaraki Prefecture, and more. However, the company identified several challenges faced by local governments:

1. Barrier to App Downloads: Many older residents find it challenging to install new applications.
2. Low Usage Rates: Despite awareness of the service, the complex booking process led to underutilization.
3. Digital Divide: A segment of the population, even if they own smartphones, primarily uses LINE for communication.

Given that there are over 100 million monthly active LINE users in Japan (with substantial uptake among the elderly), the aim was to harness LINE as a booking channel to overcome these obstacles.

Enhanced Convenience through LINE Integration

The newly implemented functionality facilitates a smooth user experience without requiring additional app installations:

• - Seamless Booking via LINE: Residents can book rides simply by adding the LINE official account. There's no need to download from the App Store or Google Play.

• - Intuitive Booking Flow: Users can complete their ride requests in four easy steps: select pickup location, drop-off location, date and time, and the number of passengers. The interface incorporates map stop selections and calendar UI, ensuring anyone can navigate it without confusion.

• - SMS Verification for Security: Initial bookings will require SMS verification for user identification without compromising safety. Subsequent bookings can be completed smoothly.

• - Unified Management with Existing Operations: The LINE booking functionality will be managed centrally with the AI dispatch engine, maintaining current operational flows for municipalities and drivers.

Utilization Vision

The potential of public ridesharing extends beyond this LINE integration. Future developments will include ride confirmation notifications through LINE, reminders, and multi-language support, enhancing interactions with residents. Additionally, improvements to the AI dispatch engine will focus on maximizing ride-sharing efficiency while reducing wait times, working towards a sustainable transportation model.

About PubTech AI Dispatch

"PubTech AI Dispatch" is an AI-based dispatch platform tailored for local governments. It automatically calculates optimal vehicles, routes, and ride-sharing arrangements based on user requests, covering various aspects such as door-to-door transport and irregular route bookings, all managed flexibly on a single platform. This innovation enables the digital transformation of dispatch management across multiple channels, including apps, LINE, and call centers.

About Public Technologies, Inc.

Founded in May 2020, Public Technologies, Inc. aims to bridge technology with local life and administrative processes under the vision "Japanese Dynamism - Bringing Local Life to the World". The company presents itself as a startup committed to delivering advanced DX and AI solutions. Their flagship product, "PubTech", consolidates public rideshare and local currencies into a singular super app, advancing efficient public service management. Furthermore, they offer specialized databases and prompt-free AI services for government operations while actively assisting regional businesses in implementing AI solutions.

Continuing under the slogan "POWER THE COUNTRY", Public Technologies is dedicated to responding to local needs with innovative technological solutions.