BusMe presentationJim Lord & Laura Shraven

domain knowledge

competitors

strategy

tenative wireframes

personas

BusMe presentation

DOMAIN KNOWLEDGE• According to a study done by DePaul University, 22% of passengers travel to

their destination because the low-fare bus service is available. Nearly three quarters (73%) of passengers are between the ages of 18-35.

• The success of Chinatown curbside buses in the late 1990s led to the creation of “corporate” curbside buses like the BoltBus and MegaBus. Together these modes helped intercity bus travel more than double in the Northeast Corridor between 1998 and 2007 — with ridership levels topping 7 million passengers.

• “Intercity bus service was the fastest growing mode of intercity transportation, outpacing air and rail transportation.”

• Only one competitor attempts to offer a comprehensive search – GoToBus.com. In this case some of the biggest carriers (BoltBus and MegaBus) are not included. There are many individual, corporate competitors offering tickets for their fares only (Greyhound, MegaBus, BoltBus, NewCentury Travel, etc).

BusMe presentation

DOMAIN KNOWLEDGE

BusMe presentation

COMPETITORS1. GotoBus

• Full trip experience to include hotels, show and or tours• Services are available in two additional languages – Chinese and Spanish• Search feature is minimized based on prior selection – Arrival city is

dependent upon departing city.• Affiliate Program• Ability for businesses to add their buses to the service• Provide additional resources such as full bus schedules• Do not inform customers of affiliates with tour purchases• Busses do not operate out of formal bus stations• Very low prices

REVIEWS: http://www.yelp.com/biz/ivy-media-gotobus-com-cambridge

BusMe presentation

COMPETITORS 2. Greyhound

REVIEWS: http://www.yelp.com/biz/greyhound-bus-lines-boston

• Reserved seating• WI-FI availability• Special requests – legroom, outlets• Provide discounts –military,

companion, student and veterans• Provide schedule details – stops

and time layovers• Greyhound offers a variety of

carriers (Neon, BoltBus, Americanos, Crucero)

• Rewards program• Provide hotel packages

• Resources for customers traveling with children and or disabilities

• Provide information in Spanish• Multiple purchase selections

- Advanced- Web only fare- Standard fare- Refundable

BusMe presentation

COMPETITORS3. MegaBus

• Provide schedule details – stops and time layovers• Variety of departure times• Ability to easily look at previous or next day options• Provide service advisories on home page• Additional information with those traveling with disabilities• Provide information on hotel deals• Ability to search bus stop locations

REVIEWS:http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g191-d2224801-Reviews-Megabus-United_States.html

BusMe presentation

COMPETITORS4. BoltBus

• Additional features- WI-FI- Extra legroom- Plug-ins- $1 fares- Boarding groups- Reserved seating

• Frequent user rewards• Charter buses• Purchase experience is on one screen• Information window is small

REVIEWS: http://www.yelp.com/biz/boltbus-new-york

BusMe presentation

COMPETITORS5. New Century Travel / Chinatown Bus

• Daily bus between New York, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Baltimore and Richmond

• Provide number of available seats on bus when booking tickets• Change schedule on same pages as purchasing overview• Provides full schedule of all buses• Disability reservation information located on home page• Site is very busy and crowded (Request use of Internet Explorer)

REVIEWS: http://www.yelp.com/biz/apex-bus-new-york

BusMe presentation

STRATEGYCurrently, customers have no comprehensive, usable tool to compare bus fares. BusMe believes that its unique set of features and revenue model will be able to perform well in this market.

• Vision statement – BusMe: the no hassle way to finding the best bus ticket.

• How does BusMe do this? By offering the most comprehensive list of fares. Period.

• BusMe focuses on the bus trip and offers exclusive deals on food, entertainment, and services through their mobile app and website. By giving you all available fares, BusMe gives the user the opportunity to select the best ticket for them.

BusMe presentation

TENATIVE WIREFRAMES (mobile – search fares)

BusMe presentation

TENATIVE WIREFRAMES (mobile – “go on my terms”)

BusMe presentation

TENATIVE WIREFRAMES (mobile – sign in)

Name: Susan HahnAge: 29Gender: FemaleRole: Graduate StudentComputer Literacy: Advanced

•English is a second language•Asian descent•Current graduate student at Drexel University, Master of Science in Global and International Education•Friends in school in New York City and Washington D.C.•Has lived in Philadelphia for one year•Not familiar with New York City or Washington D.C.•Recently engaged•Comfortable with using a computer and the WWW•Utilizes applications from her phone and tablet•Uses Facebook to keep in touch with family and friends

Name: Brad JohnsonAge: 22Gender: MaleRole: Young Professional Computer Literacy: Advanced

•Avid user of social media•Foursquare•Has an active twitter account•Uses Facebook to connect with family and friends as well as for gaming, shopping deals and check-ins•LinkedIn•Recent graduate from Georgetown University•Scheduled for freelance work out of New York City for the summer•Wants accessibility – mobile•Comfortable with using public transportation•Does not have a family

Name: Ron RobbinsAge: 67Gender: MaleRole: RetireeComputer Literacy: Basic

•Recently retired music teacher of 32 years from The Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University•He and his wife love to travel to New York to see shows•Recently diagnosed with Presbyopia - This is the loss of the ability to clearly see close objects or small print.•Have family in Boston – son, daughter-in-law and two grandchildren•A novice user of computers – can look up basic information on the WWW•Owns a smart phone but only uses it to make phone calls

Name: Macie TrindleAge: 36Gender: FemaleRole: Working MotherComputer Literacy: Advanced

•Mother of two children; son (6), daughter (8)•A Clinical Care Manager for five years in Laurel Maryland•Husband works for NSA at Fort Meade in Maryland•Husband is confined to a wheelchair•Very comfortable with computers and technology•Main form of communication is email•Uses some social media – mainly Facebook•Loves online coupons and is a huge Groupon User•Is familiar with text alerts because of the children•Is the event planner for the family•Very organized and meticulous with receipts & confirmations•Parents live in Philadelphia•Undergraduate degree is in Art History

Name: Beth MooreAge: 19Gender: FemaleRole: Heavy user of city-to-city bus systemComputer Literacy: Advanced

•Teaches at the Philadelphia Dance Academy for one year

•Works and dances in productions in Washington D.C. and

New York

•Regularly uses buses to get from home to a job and back

•Has many dancer friends in the surrounding cities that do

the same thing

•All live in different cities but may work in the same show

•Uses social media as main source of communication

•Has a computer but primarily uses her smart phone or tablet