Dubai to launch with the world’s most sophisticated Taxi Dispatch and Fleet Management System
March 2009 - News Article
PRESS RELEASE
Sigtec, a world-leader in state-of-the-art Global Positioning (GPS) and job dispatch systems for the taxi industry, announced today that the Roads and Transport Authority Dubai (RTA) will upgrade its taxi call centre and dispatch software to Sigtec’s revolutionary Dispatcher 8 solution. The deal, said to be worth over US$3 million dollars, will deliver sophisticated technology into their new call centre facility which is currently under construction.
Dubai’s taxi fleet size and operation have grown in-line with its meteoric development as the Middle East’s centre for business and tourism. Today, Dubai has over 8,000 taxi vehicles belonging to franchise companies with this figure expected to grow to 10,000 before the end of 2009. The fleet will be dispatched and monitored through a centralised system using Sigtec’s previously established satellite tracking system.
Yousef Abdullah Al Madani, Director of Transport Systems at RTA Public Transport Agency commented. “Taxi service is a subject of a rising demand triggered by the urban development and demographic expansion in Dubai, which is shaping into an important economic centre and a point of attraction for investors and businesspersons from all over the globe.”
“The upgrading process will boost the efficiency of the fleet and enhance the level of services, thanks to the capabilities of the system in capturing the statistical data of the incoming calls and forwarding it to the Call Centre. It is also bound to step-up safety standards & driver satisfaction, and accelerates the processing of customer transactions through optimum management of the IT-enhanced booking & despatch operations. The new system will also enhance the internal communication with the Manager of the Centre with regard to delivering the message to the driver, introduce the online booking feature to boost customer service, and ensure integrated WiFi technology with the aim of improving the electronic and digital link-up process.
“RTA will proceed with the drive to provide top-notch solutions and innovative services to citizens, visitors and tourists hailing from various countries to Dubai. The new system is set to improve the flow of information between the relevant parties of the RTA, and slash the duration of delivering the vehicle to the customer” concluded Al Madani.
Following an extensive review by RTA departments, Sigtec’s latest software offering was considered superior in terms of implementing failover and disaster recovery, improved support and built in system scalability for future growth. The system will be the largest of its kind in the UAE.
“Sigtec has consistently demonstrated an ability to align with the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) vision of ‘Safe and Smooth Transport for all’ by attention to detail and ensuring the highest standards of customer care” said John Thompson Sigtec’s Managing Director. “Once operational, the system is expected to improve information flow within RTA, reduce pick up times and provide a better customer experience to all passengers in Dubai. We are extremely privileged to be partnering with the RTA in this project and are dedicated to keeping Dubai at the forefront Intelligent Transportation Solutions
(ITS)”
About RTA
Dubai is one of the fastest growing cities in today’s world, making the provision of high quality infrastructure facilities absolutely imperative. Providing an advanced transport network for the people of Dubai has been high on the government’s agenda, which is evident from its initiatives to enhance the public transport facilities and improve roads across the emirate to make travel safer and smoother, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) was formed by the decree number 17 for the year 2005.
RTA is responsible for planning and providing the requirements of transport, roads and traffic in the Emirate of Dubai, between Dubai and other Emirates of the UAE, neighbouring countries in order to provide an effective and an integrated transport system capable of achieving Dubai’s vision and serving the vital interests of the Emirate.