Abstract
This project work
titled “Design and Implementation of a Web Based Bus Ticket Reservation System”
is designed for all transit companies with God is Good Motors, Asaba terminal
as the project case study. The design was aimed at eradicating the long queues
at the ticket stand as it ensures online booking and payment of tickets
regardless of the customer’s geographical location. The methodology used to
carry out this work is Structured System Analysis and Design methodology
(SSADM) and the new system was designed with ASP.NET and SQL server at the
backend, these programming tools were chosen for implementing this project
because they offer a wide range of tools for creating an interactive graphical
user interface and it supports web client service. The benefits of the design
include increase in customer servicing and reduction of human effort while
enhancing productivity. It also ensures data security and integrity as all the
data are stored and retrieved from a cloud-based server. This system would
allow online cashless transaction thereby encouraging a cashless economy.
CHAPTER
ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.0 INTRODUCTION
The
internet has tremendously transformed the way people look at life and business,
from emails to chats, from manual business networking to e-commerce, internet
has altered the way business is steered globally; among the many other things,
standing in queues to pay bills or to be attended which is the toughest, especially
where customers are much like in ATM, Super market, Shop rite etc in big cities
like Onitsha, Lagos, Abuja and the likes. The serpentine line of the people on
the queue never seems to end.
Most
transit companies face a lot of challenges with their ticketing and scheduling
process. Travellers waste a lot of time at the bus park either queuing to buy
bus ticket or loitering around in search for a transit to their various
destinations.
This
project intends to computerize the company’s semi-computerized customer service
system to be automated in other to provide a better customer service. The Automated
customer service System is a web based
system that enhance customers to be served quickly,with accuracy, making
payment, ordering goods and various types of services that needs urgent and
instant response. The system is built to manage and computerize their
traditional database, customer service to be automatic.It allows counter
employees to check bus availability and make reservation for a particular
customer. It maintains all traveller’s personal details, employee details, bus
details, reservation and booking details.
1.1
AIMS
AND OBJECTIVES
The
main aim of the proposed Online Bus Ticket Reservation System is to provide
remote access to bus reservation services. The objective includes;
a) To
provide a wed based transactional service where customers can buy and reserve
seats online thereby eliminating the stress and time wasted in queuing up at
the counter to buy tickets.
b) To
provide an anytime, anyplace services to customers offering a 24-hours access
to the customers regardless of their geographical location.
c) To
enable customers to check the availability of bus tickets, bus schedules and
also enquiries about on-board services.
d) To
ease the bus ticket payment allowing customers to pay with their credit cards.
e) To
minimize the manual workload at the counter box thereby reducing the number of
counter employees significantly.
f) To
make data storage easier and accurate and provide efficient customer services.
1.2
SCOPE
OF STUDY
The
Online Bus Ticket Reservation System is an automatic, easy to use and
self-service system suitable for all bus transit company that operates within
inter-city, inter-state or international level. But this study is limited to
GOD IS GOOD MOTORS, ASABA TERMINAL because of its closeness to Atani Campus of
Federal Polytechnic Oko.
1.3
SIGNIFICANCE
OF THE STUDY
This
research work analyses the manual method of booking and reserving bus tickets
and provide a convenient way of availing bus tickets online. The Online Bus Ticket Reservation System has
relatively faster and efficient service technique than the manual method. It
eliminates the time and stress of queuing at the counter to buy tickets. It
also eliminates the problem of misplaced tickets as all bookings and
reservation are stored on the systems database.
Besides
the customers, the system enables employees to upload new information about bus
schedules, prices and policy changes.
1.4
STATEMENT
OF PROBLEM
The
existing system being used by the staff at the counter is an internal system
that only enables them to sell bus tickets over the counter. Customers have to
go to the counter to book and buy tickets or ask for travel schedules. In most
cases, customers have to queue for a long time before they can buy tickets and
they have to pay in cash. Besides that, it is almost impossible to book a
ticket over the telephone because the company’s telephone lines are always busy
and often out of reach.
1.5
LIMITATION
OF THE STUDY
At
different stages of this research, some hiccups were encountered that speed-humped
the project. Among them are;
1) Inadequate
fund to finance the project
2) Constraint
of time: this is as a result of the research work colliding with academic work
schedules thereby reducing the time for doing the research.
3) The
employees at the case study were reluctant to disclose some vital information
needed but after much persuasion, they eventually obliged.
1.6
CONTRIBUTION
OF THE STUDY TO ICT KNOWLEDGE
Electronic
Ticketing System utilizes information technology resources allowing multiple
users at different locations to have access to its services simultaneously
without conflict and also promotes the cashless economy campaign, enabling
customers to pay with their credit cards. This amazing feature contributes
tremendously to the ICT body of knowledge. And also; this system is very
educative and hence will attract future researchers for further advancement and
contribution which will in turn contribute to the ICT body of knowledge.
1.7
DEFINITION
OF TERMS
a) Bus
schedule: is a calendar that shows various bus departures and arrival times,
including their destination points.
b) INFORMATION:
processed data
c) ON-BOARD
SERVICES: refers to the services rendered inside the transit.
d) E-TICKET:
is an electronic ticket that gives users the right to transit on a bus.
e) TICKETING
SYSTEM: a collection of all the processes involved in producing and selling
tickets.
f) COMMUNICATION:
is the flow of information from one point (a source) to another. Electronic
transfer of information from one location to another.
g) RESERVATION:
the action of making an arrangement for a service on a proposed date and time.
h) WEB
BASED: simply means the services that are rendered over the internet/ World
Wide Web.
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