Dubbed as a trailblazer in the transport sector and the first of its kind in Asia, Zipster brings all public transport operators in Singapore as well as major companies such as Grab, Gojek and BlueSG, an electric car-sharing operator to one platform. Other collaborators include bike-sharing firm Anywheel and bus-pooling service provider ShareTransport.
"The app, beside savings, would give commuters greater convenience," said Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry Chee Hong Tat, who officially launched it on Monday (Sept 16).
MobilityX's CEO Colin Lim said the platform will allow commuters to compare multiple travelling options and book private transport services on a single platform.
Mr Chee also noted that Zipster appears to be the next disruptor in the land transport sector, reiterating a point made last month by Senior Minister of State for Transport Janil Puthucheary.
"By integrating mobility services such as public transport, taxis, and car and bicycle sharing, MaaS offers commuters a more streamlined and personalised experience," said Mr Chee, referring to the concept Mobility as a Service (MaaS).
"There are also benefits to society as a whole, as such services can further improve the overall efficiency of our transport system," he added.
The trial version of the app has been available for download since April this year. There has been 16,000 user downloads and used approximately150,000 times.
The current Zipster offers a route planning function similar to that of apps like Google Maps and suggests various transport options and timings for completing a trip. Additionally, it shows the prices of taking a trip by bus, MRT or private-hire cars. For private-hire trips on Grab or Gojek, the app will direct commuters to their respective app.
Commuters can also buy discount vouchers through Zipster's consolidated marketplace.
When the enhanced app is launched in six months' time, mobilityX's Mr Lim said commuters can expect an initial three to five subscription plans. They can cost between S$50 and S$100, with savings ranging from 5% to 20%.
MobilityX is likewise working with payments giant Mastercard and local firm MatchMove to develop a pilot payment card for its subscription plans.
Mr Lim has plans to expand Zipster in the Asia Pacific region and said a growing demand for alternatives to a car would boost business.
"We are still in the early stages of the revolution. I think in the next five to 10 years, how people consume transport will change dramatically," he added.
During Zipster's launch, Mr Chee said Enterprise Singapore is working with mobilityX to take the app overseas. He urged other businesses to also expand beyond Singapore to seek opportunities. -/TISG
