While patiently waiting for one of this to become available, I noticed the system that they were using to keep track of which "matatu" was next in line to board passengers. This is in order to prevent the chaotic free for all that was our transport system a few short years ago, but thats a story for another blog.
The system that they were using was a pen and paper check off system where they "ticked" against every "matatu's" registration number once it was up for boarding.
The system seems to be working and apart from a few heated arguments when a "matatu" jumped the queue.
The situation of course gave rise to a web app idea, especially when I noticed that all of the "enforcers" at the bus stage had relatively fancy phones, each of which had internet browsing capability.
The web app that I have in mind would be a very simple replacement of the current system where instead of "ticking" off a "matatu" manually, one would check it off online through their mobile phone browsers. The system has the advantage of being less prone to fraud and if a corresponding "check in" system is enabled for the drivers, it would enable the cross checking of records vastly improving the accuracy of the acquired data.
The most significant advantage in my opinion would be the fact that the data would be in a nice form ( already entered and electronic ) allowing for easy statistical analysis for whoever manages the fleet.
They could easily pull up stats on the number of trips per vehicle and be able to tell which crews are consistently performing and also enabling them to identify the troublesome crews.
The system is not infallible or a silver bullet to management problems in itself, but it can be a very usefull took in the more efficient running of "matatu" fleets as we wait for GPS and other proximity devices to become cheap enough to an integrated into the system.
Securitywise, the system still depends on humans to ensure that the system is not compromised while improving on some areas of human laxity but them again, which computer system doesn't?
Disclaimer: the author is "net mad" and suggests internet based solutions to every problem on earth. He is also known to be have an unhealthy infatuation with his mobile phone.
This blog post was typed up on a mobile phone on the short distance but long duration commute between Nairobi CBD and Uthiru/Ndumboini. Go mobile net!
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