IT-TRANS 2026
INIT will demonstrate how transport companies can successfully overcome the shortage of skilled workers with IT solutions
(© INIT)
Karlsruhe – 13 January 2026
The shortage of skilled staff poses major challenges for transport companies. Fortunately, suitable IT solutions can help to close this gap. INIT, the world's leading provider of integrated planning, dispatching, telematics, and ticketing systems, will be demonstrating what the right support can look like at IT-TRANS in Karlsruhe. From March 3 to 5, 2026, visitors can find out more at the INIT Group's booth in Hall 1, Booth F5.
Attracting and retaining new drivers
Attracting and retaining new drivers is becoming increasingly difficult. Desirable working conditions are essential for this. Newly designed duty roster concepts that offer employees greater control over their working hours ensure higher satisfaction. Motivation increases, while staff turnover and sick leave decrease.
In the MOBILE-PERDIS personnel assignment system, drivers can easily enter their prefered shifts via PC or smartphone. Shifts are then assigned based on the company's rules and regulations, with the system ensuring a high and fair fulfillment rate. At the same time, MOBILE-PERDIS makes sure all operational and legal requirements are met. A duty pool lets drivers handle short-notice requests or swap shifts independently, making it easier to adapt to last-minute changes without disrupting operations.
Selling tickets is an additional burden for drivers, which is even more difficult to cope with if they have limited language skills. Account-based ticketing can reduce this burden as passengers check in and out themselves at a validator. They simply use their bank or credit card, their smartphone, or even a (virtual) customer card. The system automatically calculates the best price using fare capping. This reduces the need for interaction between drivers and passengers, while passengers benefit from always getting the lowest fare without having to think about ticket options. INIT also provides a convenient platform solution for account-based ticketing as a service.
Electric buses pose new challenges for depot operations: charging takes significantly longer than refueling and must therefore be intelligently controlled to ensure cost efficiency. This also means that vehicles can no longer be easily reallocated. These are challenging tasks, even for experienced team members.
The MOBILE-DMS depot management system fully integrates the specific e-mobility requirements and all workflows. For each individual vehicle, the current state of charge is checked, a suitable block is determined, the range required for the next trip is calculated, and a suitable parking slot is assigned. An interface to the charge management system also ensures that a suitable replacement bus is assigned in the event of unexpected events during the charging process.
Downloads
At IT-TRANS 2026 in Karlsruhe, INIT will demonstrate how integrated IT solutions can help transport companies deal with the shortage of skilled staff. Visitors can find the INIT Group in Hall 1, Booth F5, from March 3 to 5. (© Adobe Stock | INIT)
MOBILE-PERDIS supports transport companies with flexible, fair, and compliant duty scheduling. Drivers can digitally record their preferred shifts, which increases satisfaction and reduces staff turnover and sick leave. (© INIT | Ulrike Kabel)
Account-based ticketing enables access to public transport with the help of bank and credit cards, even for occasional travellers who do not want to have to understand the fare system. (© INIT)
MOBILE-DMS supports transport companies in the efficient management of e-bus depots: The system takes into account charge levels, ranges, and blocks and, thanks to its connection to charge management, ensures smooth vehicle deployment—even in the event of unplanned incidents. (© Völklinger Verkehrsbetriebe)
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Head of Department Corporate Marketing
INIT worldwide
Phone: +49 721 6100 113
Fax: +49 721 6100 399