MaaS Scotland Conference Online – session recordings 

About 

The MaaS Scotland Conference Online took place across Wednesday 30th September and Thursday 1st October 2020 for the first time in an online format. With the opportunity for attendees to join up to seven sessions and hear from over 20 brilliant speakers from across the MaaS landscape, the MaaS Scotland Conference Online offered an alternative to our usual physical event and provided attendees with sessions covering a range of topics that will impact the direction and delivery of MaaS in the coming years. Our conference was also an opportunity for our attendees to find out more about the initial pilot projects funded through the Scottish Government’s MaaS Investment Fund and look ahead to future funding rounds.

We’re delighted to be able to share the full recordings from each of our seven sessions below:

Keynote Session

The development of MaaS is a truly international effort, with projects, pilots and commercial deployments occurring in cities and regions across every continent. Each initiative is adding to the global evidence base for MaaS and it is hugely important that we learn from the successes and failures of others as we look to implement our own solutions.

This year’s Keynote Session provided a flavour of MaaS developments from two locations at opposite sides of the globe – Denmark and Australia.

Our Keynote speakers:

Michael Matheson | Cabinet Secretary for Transport and Infrastructure

Claus Rehfeld Moshøj | CEO | Rejsekort and Rejseplan A/S

Kevin Orr | CEO and Co-founder | Liftango

Plenary 1 – MaaS in Scotland – An update on Scotland’s MaaS Programme

In June 2019, The Scottish Government formally launched its MaaS Investment Fund, a £2 million investment to support a programme of MaaS pilot projects across Scotland. An initial three projects were announced in late 2019, led respectively by HITRANS, Tactran and Dundee City Council. In this session we hear updates from all three of the projects supported through the MaaS Investment Fund. We also hear directly from Transport Scotland as they discuss the programme to date and provide the latest information on Round 2 of the fund. The session also includes a return of last year’s successful MaaS Scotland SME showcase.

Technical Session 1 – Data and security

The emergence of data led service models will transform the transport landscape, creating new business models that will revolutionise the way we engage with our transport services.

Data will be a key enabler of this transformation. From fares to scheduling, traffic management to vehicle positioning, air quality to weather information, data will support more informed travel choices and allow more efficient use of our transport assets.

As we emerge from the current covid crisis, and prepare for similar crisis in the future, data will also play a crucial role in building passenger confidence, providing real time information to support piece of mind and encourage positive modal shift.

Against this backdrop, questions must be asked to identify how data can best be used to support a more efficient and attractive transport network while protecting and securing our own personal data rights.

This session explores these issues and others though a small number of short formal presentations followed by an interactive discussion with panellists.

Technical Session 2 – User engagement

The development of MaaS is regularly discussed in terms of technical challenges or the relentless quest to find commercially viable business models for its delivery. However, while this is understandable, these conversations all too often neglect the ultimate measurement of success – user engagement.

In order to realise the many benefits of MaaS and drive the positive change we all believe it could bring, we must ensure that the user is brought with us on the journey, ready to engage with solutions as they appear in our cities and rural areas. This requires a thorough understanding of the user – what drives decision making and what are the expectations of a successful mobility solution?

In a post-covid world this understanding takes on all the more significance. Only through understanding the user can we hope to inspire the confidence required to rebuild positive momentum relating to modal shift.

This session explores the topic of user engagement, discussing some of the known drivers and barriers to engagement and exploring how MaaS could provide the solution.

Technical Session 3 – Policy and procurement

The direction of MaaS development and deployment will continue to be heavily influenced by regional and national policy instruments. If we are to realise the many benefits of MaaS then these instruments must encourage modal shift through supporting more accessible, integrated, affordable and environmentally friendly services. They must also be adapted in such a way as to continue to encourage private sector collaboration and investment.

It is also widely acknowledged that MaaS services often do not fit well into the current procurement processes, particularly when addressing innovation and the transition from pilot studies to full scale deployment. Decision makers must employ new agile procurement methods to encourage innovation and create an optimum landscape for private sector investment.

This session explores the topic of policy and procurement, examining international approaches and discussing implications for the future MaaS roadmap.

Technical Session 4 – Connectivity and infrastructure

We live in an increasingly connected world, one in which digital solutions and platforms are rapidly moving from technological ‘nice to haves’ to fundamental services that allow us to negotiate everyday life.

Transport is no exception and digital connectivity is an essential pre-requisite of MaaS. This includes not just overall connectivity, but connectivity matched to the availability needs and expectations of business and personal users.

As MaaS developments continue to accelerate we must work with government, providers and public authorities to ensure that the quality and reliability of connectivity provision allows MaaS adoption across all regions and communities in Scotland.

This session explores the topic of connectivity and infrastructure, discussing the need for ubiquitous connectivity and some of the solutions that will get us there.

Plenary 2 – The role of MaaS in a post-covid world

At the beginning of 2020 no one could have foreseen the events that have the potential to shape our lives for a generation. The global impact of covid-19 will be felt for years to come as society and the economy begin to emerge from a period of forced isolation and inactivity. A time when the world was asked to keep its distance, something that we may all be doing in some shape or form for a long time to come.

This was a hammer blow to many in the transport industry, with travel restricted and those embarking on journeys asked to do so by car, avoiding shared transport at all costs. What is the impact of this in the longer term? What does it mean for passenger confidence and a return to public and shared transport?

For MaaS, a model with shared mobility at its core, the impact is potentially huge. What does covid-19 mean for a model that at its heart aims to encourage people from their private cars and into alternative modes?

At yet there are reasons to be optimistic. The drivers for modal shift have not suddenly disappeared. Climate change, public health and inclusive growth all remain a challenge and must not be forgotten in a post-covid world. In addition, MaaS has the potential to re-build passenger confidence. A confidence built on information, on flexibility and on convenience.

With the help of our expert speakers, this session explores the role of MaaS in a post-covid world, highlighting the challenges ahead but illustrating where MaaS can be a force for good in the months and years ahead.