How the digital revolution is transforming mobility

The world of urban mobility is changing, and during the past ten years, the sector has lived through a digital revolution.

With the latest technological innovations and mobility trends continuing to revolutionise the sector, it is up to the leading voices within public transport to define that future direction.

Among those developments are great leaps forward in digitalisation and I.T., with Artificial Intelligence, payment and ticketing, cybersecurity and Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) constantly advancing.

With the question on what is happening in the world of digitalisation and I.T. within public transport taking centre stage, there is one international event working to provide those answers.

Heading into the 2024 edition (Karlsruhe, Germany 14-16 May 2024), IT-TRANS is the largest event of its kind dedicated to I.T. and digitalisation within urban mobility.

Jointly organised and hosted by UITP, the International Association of Public Transport, and Messe Karlsruhe, the eighth edition in 2022 saw record numbers of delegates discuss the next steps in innovation and digitalisation across a global Conference and Exhibition.

As public transport continues to build back better from the global pandemic, the sector is dedicated to creating sustainable and innovative networks for the future.

For UITP, as a member-led association, their work to advance sustainable urban mobility alongside its global membership, is vital to achieving these aims.

UITP’s Senior Project Manager responsible for IT-TRANS, Indira Khara, and UITP Consultant for TRANSFORTIS Andrea Soehnchen, Programme Manager for the event, spoke about the 2024 edition, and the important role digitalisation will play across public transport in the future.

The 2024 edition of IT-TRANS will be held under eight key themes. What are these and why were they selected?

Andrea: Innovation, innovation, innovation. That will be the key word and key focus throughout our programme. Similar to almost every sector, public transport was greatly impacted by the global pandemic, and as we work to build back better, public transport must become more efficient in the process, and better aligned with the needs of our passengers. We need to be open to development across the board and to build on integrating innovation from other sectors. We can learn from each other. With our eight key themes set: Digital Transformation, Ticketing and Payment, Connectivity, 5G and Telecoms, Cyber Security, Shared Mobility and Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS), Data, Standards and Governance, Autonomous Mobility, we truly have something for everyone. We know that with a programme defined under these key themes, we will focus the conversation on the topics of vital importance to those working within the sector, and those using the sector. The digitalisation of public transport is a large development to consider, and it’s only at IT-TRANS that the sector as a whole can really tackle that head on.

What can the audience expect when they arrive for IT-TRANS in May?

Indira: As the largest event of its kind dedicated to I.T. and digitalisation in urban mobility, IT-TRANS has always brought together the biggest and brightest names in the sector, and the 2024 edition won’t be any different. Technology is constantly accelerating and the digital revolution taking place in public transport has continued to develop since the last edition of IT-TRANS was held. It’s really the event where tomorrow’s mobility trends are set. Our conference and exhibition are global in name and nature, with some of the sector’s biggest and most recognisable names joining us to showcase new innovations and present the latest trends. Public transport brings people together, in more ways than one, and everyone who will attend IT-TRANS has the shared goal of further connecting our cities and further connecting people – public transport is the key to doing that. We know from past editions that our attendees and our audience value the opportunity to interact, network, and share experiences and insight. It’s that shared insight which will move our sector forward.

With the event being built around the international conference and exhibition, what details can you share at this stage?  

Andrea: The IT-TRANS Conference is the perfect opportunity to learn about the impact and opportunities for the public transport sector when it comes to digitalisation, AI, data, cybersecurity, ticketing and more. The conference attracts speakers from all over the world, from a wide variety of backgrounds, who bring their expertise to plenary sessions, roundtables, and exchanges covering all our key topics and themes. As well as sharing insight on the latest sector developments, delegates will get the opportunity to  hear success stories on how those major players have implemented digital developments into their networks, authorities and operations. It’s an opportunity to hear about the present, and the future. The exhibition is hosted in tandem with the conference and in 2022, 276 exhibitors presented innovative tools and solutions across 28,000m2 of exhibition space. The exhibition is the window into the future of urban mobility, and within this space there’s also market update forums and start-up presentations. You can discover, experience, and discuss all at the same time.

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