Go-Ahead uses Dovu’s blockchain tech to augment customer data

UK train and bus company Go-Ahead is to use Dovu’s blockchain-driven reward platform to gain more data on its passengers.

The scheme will be rolled out initially on Go-Ahead’s Thameslink and 4271 Southern Rail train services and offers passengers using the Dovu platform the chance to earn cryptocurrency when they share their travel information.

This will be used to help them make changes to their travel behaviour, the companies say. 

Among other things, Dovu aims to <%$Linker:2External<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?><dictionary />000link-external encouragefalsehttp://www.itsinternational.com/categories/classification-data-collection/features/blockchain-the-next-big-thing-for-its-really/falsefalse%> the use and sharing of transport resources.

“Data is the oil of the new economy and transport users are being incentivised to share their data in a responsible way,” insists Krasina Mileva, Dovu co-founder.

“Improving and rewarding customer loyalty and behaviour should be an essential part of what we do,” says David Gornall, innovation lead, Govia Thameslink Railway.

Mileva says the move will produce actionable data that can boost efficiencies and improve services.

The companies got together following the eight-week Billion Journey <%$Linker:2External<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?><dictionary />000link-external Projectfalsehttps://billionjourneyproject.com/falsefalse%>, an accelerator programme for start-ups, which is funded by Go-Ahead.

Go-Ahead says it will work with seven more companies from the project. These include Axon Vibe, a smart journey planning service that provides personalised real-time transport updates, and Citi Logik, an information service which tells passengers how busy their services are likely to be both before and after their boarding.