Tag Archives for: Passio Technologies

Passio Technologies acquires ParaPlan Software

May 03, 2019

Passio Technologies acquires ParaPlan Software

ParaPlan Software is now part of Passio Technologies Transit Solutions

Passio is thrilled to announce that as of May 1, 2019 ParaPlan software is now a part of the Passio family. Passio will acquire the assets, people, software, and customer contracts of EnGraph, LLC. The new company will operate as Passio Technologies, Inc. and will continue to be headquartered in Atlanta, GA, with regional offices in Greenville, SC and Lenexa, KS.

ParaPlan Software has been an industry leading provider of ParaTransit, NEMT (Non Emergency Medical Transport), and on demand technology for more than 20 years. They have a deep understanding of the ParaTransit and the NEMT industries. By using customer

feedback and close personal relationships they have developed a product that runs operations more efficiently, makes drivers lives easier, and empowers the riders.The combined company will have over 200 customers throughout the United States and Canada.

“We could not be more excited to join the Passio team. Since 1999, EnGraph has been focused solely on our industry-leading on-demand software, ParaPlan. Passio’s similar approach to ITS innovation and their commitment to customer success is in perfect alignment with the way we’ve always done business. Together, we’ll be able to provide an integrated and comprehensive transit technology solution for agencies of any size, whether fixed route or on-demand. Helping our customers best meet the demands of a quickly-changing industry has driven us from day one, and now we can further our mission to bring communities closer together through smarter transit and enable mobility with dignity,” said Tim Hibbard, CEO of EnGraph.

At Passio Technologies, we pride ourselves on being a company of service-oriented, transit experts who have developed technology to meet the specific needs of transit and shuttle systems. Passengers, operators, and managers benefit significantly from right sized transit technology solutions. Whether light duty shuttle buses or heavy use transit systems, technology

improves the rider’s experience, enhances operational ability, and increases managements’ visibility. Passio’s customers include leading universities, airports, corporate, healthcare, and cities nationwide. They are now able to provide their passengers with real-time apps and manage services and resources instantly from the field or the office.

“Integrating ParaPlan software with Passio’s existing Intelligent Technology Solution platform provides customers with a one stop, fully integrated solution for scheduled, dispatched, and demand transit. Smarter mobility technology is how we’ll meet the challenges of limited

resources, dwindling budgets, and higher transit demand that the future is sure to bring to our customers,”said Mitch Skyer, President, and Co-Founder of Passio Technologies.

EnGraph and Passio’s growth and commitment to changing the world through mobility mirror each other in many ways. Both companies are actively managed by their founders and owners, focus on customer support, retention, and responsiveness above all else, and believe it is our mission to create an environment where employees are valued, heard, and believe in the mission. Incorporating ParaPlan software and Engraph’s team of dedicated and visionary professionals into the Passio team will allow us to maintain this amazing culture while providing our customers with the tools they need to meet the increasing needs of their passengers.

Please visit our website www.passiotech.com and click on Passio ParaPlan to find out more about our new offering. We’ll share much more information in the days and weeks to come

about how Passio will continue to innovate. We are proud to be transit geeks.

About Passio Technologies

Named as one of 2018’s TAG Top 40 Innovative Companies in Georgia, Passio Technologies provides modular and scalable transit technology solutions to fit any-sized transit system. Passio’s exclusive platform, IncroMAXX, answers the daily challenges present in managing

transportation systems, providing a single solution that integrates the technology passengers demand and that operators require for excellent transit service. Through onboard connectivity, IoT collection and integration, and cloud-based, open-architecture aggregation, Passio provides over 100 transit agencies with operational control improving mobility for passengers nation-wide. For additional information, please visit www.passiotech.com.

For more information or additional details, please contact: Kayla Ferguson at kayla@passiotech.com

Passio Technologies Introduces Passio InfoVision™ to Enhance the Transportation Experience

February 05, 2019

Passio Technologies Introduces Passio InfoVision™ to Enhance the Transportation Experience

Passio Technologies recently announced a new partnership and service line designed to further enhance the transportation experience for its clients. Passio InfoVision™ is the latest solution for delivering high definition video content and on-board route and stop information for transit passengers in real time.

In partnership with Nixplay™, Passio InfoVision™ puts operators in complete control of the content featured on screens on their transit system, allowing them to create, schedule, and update customized playlists by bus, route, time, and date. The content is delivered to each vehicle remotely, with just the touch of a button. The content is seamlessly uploaded from the operator’s Passio InfoVision™ account directly to the screens on selected vehicles. Users can utilize numerous programs to develop graphic and text content, and upload directly to the Passio InfoVision™ portal. The program also features GPS-triggered display, offering real time content including driver information, next stop, routes, and more.

Passio InfoVision™ is also a valuable tool to increase revenue, offering opportunities for targeted advertising for local and national companies seeking to target a captive, on-board audience. Passio InfoVision™ is also a way to engage passengers through social media via interactive content generated on Passio InfoVision™ displays.

passiotech.com

Passio Recognized as Top Innovative Company in Georgia

May 22, 2018

Passio Recognized as Top Innovative Company in Georgia

Passio Technologies was recently recognized by the Technology Association of Georgia (TAG) as one of the Top 40 Innovative Companies in Georgia. TAG award recipients are recognized for a wide range of qualities including degree of innovation, scope and financial impact of innovation, likelihood of success, and promotion of Georgia’s innovative efforts.

Along with this great recognition, Passio also attended TAG: The Summit on March 20th and 21st. The Summit is an annual event that engages more than 1400 executives, entrepreneurs, and academic leaders from around the world. These experts come together to discuss and develop ideas focusing on global trends in the tech community. Key notes included Barry Simpson, SVP and CIO of The Coca-Cola Company, Alanna Cotton, GP and GM Mobile Computing and Wearables of Samsung Electronics America, and Thornton May, Futurist, Educator, and Author. The major takeaway was that we are living in a ground-breaking city, steeped in innovation and Atlanta is on its way to becoming a full-integrated smart city. The future is now.

At The Summit, Passio President Mitch Skyer, also participated in a panel called “How the EV Trend is Impacting Business” with Jack Perkowski of Green4U Technologies, and Isaac Wittenstein of TEQ Charging, moderated by John Yates. The discussion centered around the emergence of electric and autonomous vehicles and how these technologies will impact the world. Passio was thrilled to attend this tremendous event that encouraged interaction among technology experts from a wide range of specialties.

For more information about our experience at The Summit, check out the Passio Technologies Blog.

About Passio Technologies

Passio Technologies provides innovative, customizable transit and parking solutions coupled with user friendly, industry leading technology and reporting. Passengers, Operators, and Managers benefit significantly from right sized transit technology solutions. Whether light duty shuttle buses or heavy use transit systems, technology improves the rider’s experience, enhances operational ability, and increases managements’ visibility. Passio Technologies develops and supports technology solutions that provide on-board passenger counting and validation, GPS location services, a customer experience solution, and a full reporting suite.

Contact

Kayla Ferguson
kayla@passiotech.com

President of Atlanta-based Passio Technologies presents during 2017 IPI conference

June 05, 2017

Skyer: Use Technology to Maximize the Destination Experience

President of Atlanta-based Passio Technologies presents during 2017 IPI conference

NEW ORLEANS — The next generation of parking and transit technology should incorporate local city and university apps, as well as complementary services such as Lyft, Uber, Ride Amigos, and Google Transit to improve the consumer experience and increase ridership and usage rates.

“Everything we do in parking and transit boils down to one very simple and straightforward concept: How Do I Maximize the Journey to Destination Experience?” Mitch Skyer, president of Atlanta-based Passio Technologies, asked. “In other words, ‘I’ve got somewhere to go, so what’s the fastest, simplest, cheapest way for me to get there with the least amount of hassle?’”

During a presentation titled “The Bad News is Time Flies; The Good News is You are the Pilot” at this year’s International Parking Institute (IPI) 2017 Conference in New Orleans, Skyer shared his perspective about how administrators who operate parking and transit systems can tackle these challenges directly.

Technology in transit and parking takes on many forms. Starting with on board or on site hardware, operational technology that tracks passenger load, on-time performance, lot and deck counts, utilization, turnover and parking and passenger trends. Customer applications provide instant feedback on parking availability, estimated time of arrival for bus service, customer feedback and direct alerts or messages.

“The ‘Smart City’ concept includes networked devices and sensors that report on traffic, weather, maintenance items, and external factors will provide instant data to technology applications,” Skyer said. “Future technology concepts are coming quickly. Driverless cars and buses will revolutionize the Destination Experience by changing the way we think about moving and monitoring people when they travel.”

“Crowdsourcing will impact the shared transit experience. Think of Waze for buses, where we can influence and optimize each other’s behavior by collectively sharing what happens to us,” Skyer said. “This type of data can revolutionize the way schedules and routes are built and help to optimize decisions for parking development and managing parking behavior.”

For more information, visit passiotech.com.

Passio Technologies, Skyer: Use technology to identify and change perceptions

March 21, 2017

Skyer: Use technology to identify and change perceptions

‘Life is not always fair, and neither is customer service’

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The key to capturing accurate and actionable rider feedback is to use the tools and platforms where customers go and that they are willing to use.

“Life is not always fair, and neither is customer service,” Mitch Skyer, president of Passio Technologies said during the Mid-South Transportation & Parking Association (MSTPA) 2017 Annual Spring Conference and Trade Show. “Sometimes you get blamed for stuff that isn’t fair.

“Perception is the biggest challenge we have,” Skyer added. “The technology should help with you identifying what the perception is and how to change that perception.”

It is often as simple as opening up a dialogue with customers.

As one example, Skyer highlighted Passio’s partnership with Texas A&M University, which deployed BusBuzz Text Connect™ on its Aggie Spirit bus system to solicit riders’ feedback. With the platform, users can simply send their thoughts via text for administrators to review.

During his remarks, Skyer highlighted the importance of not just asking for feedback but taking action on the perspective riders provide. The easier a system is for users to provide their thoughts, the more likely they are to give useful insights.

“Find the tools that work for you to gather the information, to get the questions answered that you need answered or to find out things you don’t know,” Skyer said. “You can’t ask every question if you don’t know something is happening.”

Skyer’s speech was titled “Innovative Interaction: How to Tickle Your Passengers Without Getting Smacked!” For more information, visit passiotech.com.

About Passio Technologies

Passio provides scalable transit technology solutions that enhance the passenger experience and enable operators to improve efficiency. The company’s tailored solutions empower managers at transit systems of all sizes to make decisions that maximize resources and minimize expenses. Passio’s exclusive platform, IncroMAXX, provides a single management solution that integrates the technology passengers demand and operators require for excellent transit service. For more information, visit www.passiotech.com.

Passio Technologies: Make Parking and Transit a Key Element of Your Campus Safety Plan

December 19, 2016

Make Parking and Transit a Key Element of Your Campus Safety Plan

By Mitch Skyer, President of Passio Technologies

Campus safety is as important an issue as ever.

The U.S. Department of Education reports that despite an uptick in 2015, the number of criminal offenses reported declined between 2005 and 2014. Colleges, particularly those located in urban environments, are not immune to larger crime trends, and improving statistics are not a substitute for earnest vigilance.

Safe campus environments are created through a combination of concrete steps that include officer patrols, lighting plans, facility security, education, and a practice of awareness (See Something, Say Something).

Parking and transportation play a pivotal role in enhancing and embracing security. Left unchecked, they have the potential to be vulnerable areas with the campus security network. One of the great challenges transit systems face is making sure uninvited or unauthorized passengers do not gain entry to a system. While many unauthorized passengers may have no intent to cause problems, there is no need to invite risk.

Many agencies use controlled access to help minimize risks inherent when access is uncontrolled. These same agencies have found that the data gathered provides incredible insight into user trends and resource allocation needs. A system such as Passio Technologies’ Gateway solution securely tracks boarding passengers by unique ID cards, and then provides ridership data and trend analysis that allows planners to detail nearly every aspect of the rider profile. Through demographics reporting employees, students, and faculty ridership can be tracked by day, date, time, and individual route and stop. Financial allocations can be quickly determined, and smart deployment of resources can be adjusted quickly to meet real time demand.

The introduction of tap and swipe card technology ensures that each passenger’s ID card is validated against a database every time they board the vehicle. Individuals who don’t belong on the bus don’t have the opportunity to ride. Often universities or agencies forgo an effective and easy to deploy security measure due to a mistaken belief that the cost is unnecessary or it will create a disruption to service.

Some agencies have even taken the platform one step further by integrating the controlled access system with a notification system. Many agencies use such a platform to alert riders of service changes, but it can be easily integrated with existing notification systems to ensure complete coverage of a school’s population.

The bottom line is universities have a lot of tools at their disposal to ensure the safest campuses possible. The technology is available today, and that’s why it is imperative we look at every solution possible.

It may be impossible to completely eliminate the bad guys. But, we can certainly make it more difficult for them to do harm.

Passio Technologies Brings Right-Sized Transit Solutions to Trade Shows in Florida, Georgia

November 29, 2016

Passio Technologies Brings Right-Sized Transit Solutions to Trade Shows in Florida, Georgia

Company closing out successful 2016 trade show season with trio of events
ATLANTA — Passio Technologies will close out a busy and productive 2016 trade show season by bringing its right-sized solutions to shows in Georgia and Florida.

Atlanta-based Passio will be exhibiting during the 2016 Florida Parking Association December Conference as the show celebrates its 37th year. This year’s show is Nov. 30-Dec. 2 in Orlando, Florida.

Passio is a bronze sponsor for the 2016 Georgia Transit Association Annual Conference, held Dec. 7-9 in Athens, Georgia.

To close out the season, Passio will attend the Florida Public Transportation Association Annual Conference from Dec. 11-14 in Jacksonville, Florida.

During the shows, Passio will highlight the company’s innovative transit technology solutions, including passenger counting, real-time vehicle tracking and GPS-enabled voice announcements.

“There is much discussion today about expanding transit, and technology should play an integral role in helping organizations meet their objectives,” said Mitch Skyer, president of Passio. “Any solution should be customized so it serves their needs and, more importantly, the needs of their end users. Just because something is possible doesn’t mean it makes business sense, but we are here to help organizations navigate and implement the best technology for them.”

Passio’s solutions have been used to count more than 25 million passengers at transit systems across the country. For more information, visit passiotech.com.

About Passio Technologies

Passio provides scalable transit technology solutions that enhance the passenger experience and enable operators to improve efficiency. The company’s tailored solutions empower managers at transit systems of all sizes to make decisions that maximize resources and minimize expenses. Passio’s exclusive platform, IncroMAXX, provides a single management solution that integrates the technology passengers demand and operators require for excellent transit service. For more information, visit www.passiotech.com.

Todd DeFeo
Founder | The DeFeo Groupe
470.377.1096 | todd@defeo.biz
@todddefeo | www.defeo.biz

Passio Technologies: Opportunity is to make parking better integrate with transit

November 03, 2016

Passio Technologies: Opportunity is to make parking better integrate with transit

ATLANTA — More motorists on the road means an increased demand for parking. While that is good news for parking operators, the uptick in vehicles and drivers is causing a parking crunch in many places.

Forward-looking organizations and municipalities make parking part of a larger approach to how people move through an area, whether it be a campus or community.

“The urban landscape is changing. Single occupancy vehicles won’t work on their own,” said Mitch Skyer, president of Atlanta-based Passio Technologies. “Parking operations are increasingly experiencing higher demand with fewer resources. Parking outside the building is not an option in many cases, and the efficient movement of people from their single occupancy vehicle to their destination is the primary goal.

“The opportunity is to make parking better connect with multimodal transportation options,” Skyer added. “The world changes when the transportation comes into an area.”

Communities nationwide are moving to higher-density developments that promote walkability and alternate forms of transportation. Some studies show 35 percent of people will walk a mile to reach their work, while 46 percent will walk a mile to reach their church or school.

While parking will not disappear, it should be more seamlessly integrated into a larger mobility plan — whether park and ride or periphery parking lots.

“There are physical limitations to parking,” Skyer said. “Parking is in a fixed location, and the cost of parking can be exorbitant. That requires flexibility, and flexibility comes with transit. Transit can move people anywhere there’s a road.”

A standard lane of traffic can handle about 2,000 people per hour. With buses, that same lane can handle more than four times as many people.

Once parked, organizations should use technology to make the transit experience more enjoyable for riders. That includes real-time bus tracking, Wi-Fi for passengers and passenger feedback via text.

Skyer partnered with Michael Klein, founder & CEO of Klein & Associates, to present “Expanding Your Portfolio: Understanding Fleet and Shuttle Management” during this year’s National Parking Association’s 65th Annual Convention & Expo in Atlanta.

For more information, visit passiotech.com.

President of Atlanta-based Passio Technologies talks transit trends, role of technology

July 22, 2016

President of Atlanta-based Passio Technologies talks transit trends, role of technology

In the midst of a national dialogue about the role public transportation plays in helping to ease congestion on the nation’s increasingly crowded roads, the heads of public transit agencies recently gathered in Washington, D.C., to discuss needed investments.

Technology plays an important role in that discussion — from justifying service to keeping budgets in check to improving the passenger experience, according to Mitch Skyer, president of Atlanta-based Passio Technologies.

“We’re at a crossroads. Because there are so many technology solutions, it is easy to get lost in the ‘wow’ factor,” Skyer said in a Q&A published on Communities Digital News. “Many people want to use technology for technology’s sake simply because it’s available.

“Transit organizations — and all organizations for that matter — need to keep their business objectives in mind when implementing any technology,” Skyer added. “Organizations should customize a solution to be certain it serves their specific needs and the needs of their end users, from optimizing routes based on rider demands to real-time vehicle tracking. Just because something can be done doesn’t mean it should be.”

Skyer has been helping transit agencies, private organizations and colleges and universities nationwide implement transit technology that helps streamline operations. In the wide-ranging Q&A, Skyer tackled many of the hot-button issues facing the public transit industry today, including the use of mobile platforms and big data.

“It’s fair to say the popularity of public transit is at or near an all-time high. Many cities, such as Atlanta, where we’re based, are experiencing the trend of millennials and younger professionals moving in town,” Skyer said. “Many are eschewing cars and opting to use alternative forms of transportation or public transportation.”

Read the complete Q&A in Communities Digital News at http://ow.ly/tiiA302udKf.

What are the keys to a successful merger?

April 22, 2016

What are the keys to a successful merger?

ORLANDO, Fla. — Clear and constant communication is imperative when it comes to merging parking and transit systems at higher education institutions, the president of Passio Technologies told attendees at a regional trade show.

“It’s a bit of an understatement to say merging two departments at a university is no easy task. But, it’s no easy task,” said Mitch Skyer, president of Passio. “For many, it’s easier to focus on the potential pitfalls. But, the key for any institution going through this type of merger is to open communication channels with all parties involved.

“Clear communications and compassion for everyone involved can help limit uncertainty and rumors from developing,” Skyer added. “But, perhaps more than any other benefit, this builds advocates who will champion for the change.”

Skyer and representatives from Augusta University, formerly Georgia Regents University, and Timothy Haahs & Associates co-presented “Change is Good – You Go First!” at the 2016 NACAS South Annual Conference in Orlando, Fla. Skyer co-presented alongside David Santa Ana, parking and transportation director at Augusta University; Karl Munschy, director of auxiliary administration at Augusta University; and Mike Martindill, vice president of Timothy Haahs & Associates.

Passio and Timothy Haahs & Associates partnered to counsel Medical College of Georgia and Augusta State University during their recent merger to create what is now Augusta University, formerly named Georgia Regents University.

“Even when they’re in the same institution, different departments often have great differences when it comes to technology, culture, resources, management style and administrative policies,” Martindill said. “The key is to focus on how the merger will improve the department for all involved.

“Sometimes it’s hard to see the proverbial forest for the trees,” Martindill added. “That’s why it’s so important to relay the larger strategy at play. Doing so will set up a culture for success for years to come.”

For more information, visit passiotech.com.

Todd DeFeo
Founder | The DeFeo Groupe
470.377.1096 | todd@defeo.biz
@todddefeo | www.defeo.biz