Simpleway has been making travelling easier, and transport hubs more efficient, for more than 15 years...
Our company revolutionised public communication across the transportation industry by providing a unified information platform that processes real-time data provided directly by operators or external data sources and passes it on to passengers using various communication channels. And all in one hardware-neutral package, meaning our software works with any hardware, including your existing public address and display systems.
The story of Simpleway...
In 2005, three software developers were building software solutions for big financial institutions but were united by one passion: they knew that passenger information systems within airports were not as effective as they could be. They also knew that with some clever programming they could develop software that would improve passenger announcements immeasurably, thereby making life easier for the traveller and operators.
And so they did it. Working out of a garage, and in their spare time, Petr Otoupal, Jakub Maler and Matej Zachar soon had a market-disrupting solution on their hands.
“It seemed crazy to us,” says Otoupal, now the Managing director of Simpleway. “We were all frequent travellers and it just seemed so obvious that we could improve this. And the more we got to know the industry, the crazier it seemed – the existing software would only work with specific hardware. Why? That meant that if an airport or travel hub wanted to change and improve its software they were absolutely tied to one particular manufacturer, unless they were prepared to rip out all of their existing hardware, like PA systems or display screens.”
Why not have software that would integrate seamlessly with existing hardware? Why not have software that would update display screens and voice announcement systems instantly and simultaneously. And why not build mobile communications into that, so that you could message the passenger directly?
With the software built, they formed Simpleway and took it to the place they knew best: Prague’s Václav Havel Airport. “We trialled our new software, and it worked, perfectly and beautifully. So well, in fact, that Prague Airport became our first customer.”
With their first contract under their belts, they could take their unique product to other airports and ground transportation travel hubs.
SImpleway software is now used across the world, including in some of the world’s busiest and best-known travel hubs, such as Dubai International Airport, Calgary Airport, Madrid Airport, Vancouver Airport and by Auckland Transport and the Kochi and Lucknow Metro in India.
After humble beginnings, with three people in one garage, today Simpleway employs over 50 people with offices across the world. Headquartered in the heart of Europe, and with branches in the USA, Hong Kong and Brazil, the fundamentals of the company remain true to the founders’ vision: to come up with truly groundbreaking, innovative products that make travellers’ journeys easier and public transport operations better.
Simpleway established by three humble software developers
2005
First big project awarded - Prague Václav Havel Airport
2008
First foreign project awarded - Vancouver International Airport
2011
US subsidiary established in Cheyenne, Wyoming
2013
First ground transportation project finished - Kochi metro
2017
Complex solution for Wellington railway station delivered
2020