---
title: Even With COVID-19, We Still Managed To Take This Road Trip - Optibus
description: Even With COVID-19, We Still Managed To Take This Road Trip
image: https://blog.optibus.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/What-a-trip-2020-has-been-banner_LinkedIn.png
---

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# Even With COVID-19, We Still Managed To Take This Road Trip

![Ram Greenberg](https://blog.optibus.com/hs-fs/hubfs/management-pictures-web-7.png?width=100&height=100&name=management-pictures-web-7.png)

#### Ram Greenberg

January 28, 2021

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2020 will primarily be remembered as the year of the global pandemic – but here at Optibus we’ve used our time in (and out of) lockdown to make it easier than ever to build better transportation networks, and are hard at work on making transportation planning and scheduling smarter, better and easier than ever in 2021.

Click the image to take a quick trip through the highlights of the[Optibus product journey](https://www.optibus.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Product-Recap-2020-2021-01.02.2021.pdf), or find out more below.[![Optibus product journey 2020](https://blog.optibus.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/What-a-trip-2020-has-been-banner_LinkedIn.png?width=4601&height=3067&name=What-a-trip-2020-has-been-banner_LinkedIn.png)](https://www.optibus.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Product-Recap-2020-2021-01.02.2021.pdf)

# Greater visibility, early in the process

Over the past year, we made it even easier for planners, schedulers and decision-makers of all stripes to get an early look at the effect that different planning decisions will have on the schedule – and on the bottom line – through features like:

### Sync

Streamline your workflow by syncing your timetable with your schedule. Any changes you make to routes, travel times or trips are automatically reflected in your schedule.

### Vehicle view

Check whether your timetable will meet the vehicle requirements by looking at a preliminary vehicle schedule (or a graphic view of your vehicles) while you’re still in the planning stage.

### Graphic timetable

Visualize when and where trips and routes intersect at a glance, and use that info to see how to reduce the number of vehicles or make it easier for passengers to transfer.

# More of what works

Even as we’re constantly innovating and developing, with automatic updates every two weeks, we’re also busy taking the stuff we’re already helping planners and schedulers do… and kicking it up a notch to do it even better.

### More data integration

The list of data systems Optibus integrates with keeps getting longer. In 2020 we worked with the Department for Transport to ensure compliance with the UK’s Bus Open Data Service (BODS), and integrated with Avail Technologies for CAD/AVL data.

### Turbo optimization

Our optimization algorithms were pretty powerful before, but now they’ve received a turbo boost leading to even better, faster results – even when the challenges are really complex.

### [Electric vehicles](https://blog.optibus.com/?p=15400&hsLang=en)

Electrify your fleet with our new and improved [EV module](https://blog.optibus.com/?p=15400&hsLang=en). Schedule your charging time and get good results fast with robust EV optimization.  
[![](https://blog.optibus.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/EV-screen-1-for-media-in-a-monitor.png?width=1720&height=1053&name=EV-screen-1-for-media-in-a-monitor.png)](https://blog.optibus.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/EV-screen-1-for-media-in-a-monitor.png?hsLang=en)

### Roster cycle optimization

Our rotating [rosters](https://blog.optibus.com/?p=14119&hsLang=en) already make driver workweeks more equitable and easier to maintain. Now you get more control over the types of duties and timing of the rotation, along with greater efficiency.

### Multiweek rosters

Each week is treated as its own roster, and you can see KPIs for each week individually or all the weeks together.

*Learn more about [the case for roster optimization](https://blog.optibus.com/?p=14119&hsLang=en)*

In addition to the big stuff, we also analyzed many requests for smaller upgrades that would make a big difference, and developed over 30 new planning and scheduling features in a two-day Quickathon that made the platform easier to navigate and gave planners and schedulers greater control.

# Mapping is where it’s at

We’re also really excited about the extensive mapping capabilities we’ve developed over the past 12 months and all the cool stuff this enables cities to do – most of all, the way it gives planners a passenger’s-eye view of the communities their riders live in and travel in. Some of this is still in beta for now, but stay tuned for more.

**Read more:**  
[➤Best Practices for Scheduling and Planning in the Social Distancing Era](https://blog.optibus.com/?p=15069&hsLang=en)[➤Using ‘Lifestyle Rosters’ to Improve Diversity and Encourage Driver Retention](https://blog.optibus.com/?p=15363&hsLang=en)[➤Under the Hood of Our New and Improved EV Module](https://blog.optibus.com/?p=14772&hsLang=en)

 Topics: [Transportation](https://optibus.com/tag/transportation/)

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## [The State Of Digital Transformation In Public Transportation – 5 Key Takeaways For 2024 And Beyond](https://optibus.com/ebook/2024-digital-transformation-public-transportation/)

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