Chapter one
Introduction
1.1 Background of the Study
In the advanced world like China, Britain, Australia and the United State of
America, ticketing system are usually automated with the use of internet and e-
commerce. Smart cards are usually used to make payment and ticket generated
after. The use of electronic ticketing system has increasingly helped to address the
problem of long queue and time wastage problem. (Watts, 2012).
An electronic ticketing system is a computerized system that is designed to collect,
store and retrieve information as well as conduct transactions related to passengers
and trains. The idea behind a web-based road ticketing and payment system was
originally designed and incorporated by bus operators. (Clifford, 2010).
E-tickets or card indicates that its holder has right to a specified service, right or
consideration. Electronic tickets (e-tickets) give evidence that their holders have
permission to enter a place of entertainment, use a means of transportation, or have
access to some internet services. E-ticket system is an easy and quick way to pay
for train services. (Cooper, 2007).
Electronic ticketing is a way of documenting sale, checking ticket usage and
accounting for a passenger's transportation without the traditional usage of paper
“value documents”. Passengers can make payment and print their e-tickets
ubiquitously. Passenger ticketing system is an essential system designed to address
the problem of long queue and unnecessary time wastage associated with bus
ticketing. Ticket counter is generally associated with long queue; the problem is so
clear and visible that it demands an urgent step in addressing the situation. Aside
from the problem of long queue and time wastage, passengers also experience
stress and frustration. Reasons for the long queue that is associated with the
traditional bus ticketing includes the limited counters available to deal with
passengers at peak time and transaction time. (Bent, 2011).
Making payment online saves time as payment can be made anytime around the
world. It also gives the transport corporation insight into what logistics will be
needed for each journey. The aim of the system is to make bus ticketing quick,
easy and less frustrating. The system attempts to reduce the service time of
checking route and obtaining bus, train ticket.
The System will make it possible for transport customers to manage their payment
electronically, and the administrators to work on the databases in a user friendly
manner. The customers are to register online before getting access to the database.
Once a user is registered, the user has an account which the user can use for query.
The user can check availability of bus service for a particular day, make payment
and print the electronic ticket. The user account will contain adequate information
about the user entered during the registration and will also allow the user to get
access to his previous transactions, make enquiry about the travel fare, check
availability of seats, make payment and update his account. The bus administrator
is required to login using an administrative password, once the password is
authenticated, the administrator will have access to register another administrator,
modify all the information stored in the database of the system. The information
stored in the database will include; description of the bus, train stoppages attributes
and statistics of stations, and physical description of coaches, all the reservations
that have been made, etc. (Henry, 2002).
In view of the above this research work is to Design and implement web based
passenger ticket reservation and management system for Agofure transport
company.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Some of the problem associated with the study are stated below:
i.The passengers will have to stay on the queue for long hour before been
attended to make enquiry, check bus, bus schedule and purchase their travel
ticket
ii.Inefficient customer service which leads to long queue during peak period
(productive time is wasted on the queue).
iii.Business manager lacks the capacity to provide specialized service because
they don’t have real time information.
iv.Poor financial management.
v.No customer database.