In early April 2020, SWAT Mobility helped Toyota Mobility Foundation to provide smart transport for the healthcare workers in the Rajavithi Hospital located in Bangkok, Thailand. This service is officially wrapping up as planned, after a successful deployment of about 3 months.
The project offering free-of-charge shuttle services aimed to help healthcare workers commute more safely and conveniently during the pandemic. SWAT Mobility provided the application for the staff to book seats on the shuttles, and a backend system that generated efficient, demand-responsive routes and convenient pick-up and drop-off locations. Further details about the service can be found here. Watch the video showcasing the project below.
Since the launch in early April, the shuttle services served around 120 healthcare workers daily. The safety of the passengers has always been the top priority, and the project was successfully executed without any staff and drivers infected during the service period.
Users claimed their commute times were reduced and were satisfied with the service. Ms Nongyao Remrak, a nurse at the Rajavithi hospital, normally took public buses and public vans. According to her, the waiting time for the public vans ranges from 40 minutes to an hour, and it is about 1 and a half hours for the public buses.
“My two main struggles are the long queues and lack of social distancing. [SWAT]’s application makes it easy for us to manage our bookings. [The App] is very easy and convenient to use. The close to home pickup is also very convenient. I can book a ride according to my changing schedules.”
Another user, Ms Pojjana Phetsanghan, a HR staff in the hospital, previously took public vans to get to work. Her main issue with the public vans was the long queues. It took a lot of time for her to get to work and go home.
“Toyota Mobility Foundation’s service helps to reduce the commuting time. It is more convenient as we do not have to travel very far in order to get to the shuttle.”