Aalto University spin-off Kutsuplus takes off - demand growing drastically during the fall 2014

Kutsuplus combines the comfortability and the flexibility of a taxi ride to the low costs of a bus ride. At the moment 15 minibuses are on the move and available for customers to order a ride either online or by sending a text message. Kutsuplus is based on software that automatically allocates the passengers and routeplans to the cars. The minibus then picks up the customers and takes them to their individual destinations more or less direct route depending on the wishes of the other customers. This on-demand shared minibus service has been available inside the Ring I Helsinki metropolitan area since 2012. During the fall 2014 the demand has started to grow extremely fast – with several hundreads or even above one thousand demands more than the previous months. Kutsuplus service is currently operated by HSL on the basis of software provided by Ajelo Ltd. Originally the project started as a research project co-operation of Aalto University Computer Science and Engineering Department, HSL, Ajelo Ltd. and the Finnish Transport Agency. It seems this computer programme based on-demand shared minibus service is unique in the world at the moment.

http://www.ajelo.com/

http://www.hs.fi/paivanlehti/26112014/kaupunki/Uusi+kulkupeli+on+marraskuun+pelastus/a1416895106026