“The online service will also make it easier for tourists, both local and foreign, to plan their travel in Malaysia and at the same time address the problem of touts,” she says.
How it works Unlike regular e-ticketing services offered by bus companies which focus on a single bus operator, Ezbus acts on behalf of multiple bus operators, servicing almost all the major destinations in Malaysia.
Currently, 14 express bus operators have joined the service, including Super Nice, Eltabina Ekspress, Darul Naim Express, Hasry Ekspress and Damai Ekspress.
The public can make ticket bookings at www.ezbus.com.my, just like they do when buying airline tickets online; they can even choose their seating arrangement. They can use Visa, MasterCard or even pay through Maybank2u. Then they only need to bring the printed confirmation slip to the bus counter to exchange with a real ticket when they want to depart.
“With the increase in fuel prices, systems like Ezbus will benefit both consumers and the operators. For consumers, they don’t have to make multiple trips to the bus station to buy tickets and come again later for the trip. For bus operators, they can expand their reach to potential customers, local and overseas, and make sales in advance,” Salina says.
The system also allows bus operators without an existing computerised system to enhance and upgrade their business module. Moreover, the system is said to be able to capture customer data and buying trends, offering bus operators a good opportunity to build a relationship with their customers, something which is difficult to do in the past. For the Ezbus service, Access MyTicket Hub has partnered with TM, Hewlett-Packard and Microsoft. The system is powered by HP’s blade servers, Microsoft .Net architecture and SQL 2008 server, and TM’s infrastructure backbone Streamyx and MyIX.
Bus operators that want to join the Ezbus system need not worry about having to buy the hardware and software systems as Access MyTicket Hub will install them at a minimal fee. Other services Apart from purchasing tickets online, the Exbus system allows the public to buy their express bus tickets over the phone and kiosks located at major malls and selected higher learning institutions.
Access MyTicket Hub has spent RM1.5 million to set up the infrastructure so far.