Fife firm wins travel app contract

A Glenrothes-based company has been appointed to help develop a new travel service for young Scots.

Ember Technology won the contract with a transport consortium to help develop software for a service that aims to offer users personalised information and tailored recommendations about their travel options.

Co-designed by young people, the application will highlight all available transport options in the user’s locality, alongside concessions and discounts, on one platform, even when there are a number of separate travel providers available.

An early version of the software will be tested during a six-month trial involving around 100 users from October this year to March 2018.

Those behind the scheme say they will take a “mobile first” approach as the users will be aged between 16 and 25.

The consortium, led by ESP Group, includes Mudlark, RouteMonkey, Young Scot, the Scottish National Entitlement Card Programme Office and Systra.

Together they secured funding to develop this service from the Enhancing the Endto-End Journey competition funded by Innovate UK, the UK’s innovation agency.

Joe Henry, co-founder of Ember Technology, said; “We’re pleased to be part of such a strong consortium that will make transport much more streamlined and personalised for 16 to 25-year-olds.”