**Need advise ** Bus Ticket reservation system

[name = user]

Hi All,

I want to start up small software develops Bus Ticket reservation system for mobile phone (andriod and iOS).
like this > https://www.redbus.my/

What i want in app are
- store user/rider data (IC,PH no, trip count and history)
- Bus companys data (bus name, time and seat selection)
- get commision from ticket fee
- payment with bank account ()
- sms reservation info to rider's hp
- monthly reports

i have diploma in Computer studies and adv diploma in computer engineering but i dont work as software developer and only know C/C++ and java.
Really no idea and lost in new programming field.
So
need your pro help on
1. What kind of programmer need to recruit and how many?
2. What kind of server need to host?
3. your value suggestions ?

Thanks guys.

 

[davidktw]

Hi All,

I want to start up small software develops Bus Ticket reservation system for mobile phone (andriod and iOS).
like this > https://www.redbus.my/

What i want in app are
- store user/rider data (IC,PH no, trip count and history)
- Bus companys data (bus name, time and seat selection)
- get commision from ticket fee
- payment with bank account ()
- sms reservation info to rider's hp
- monthly reports

i have diploma in Computer studies and adv diploma in computer engineering but i dont work as software developer and only know C/C++ and java.
Really no idea and lost in new programming field.
So
need your pro help on
1. What kind of programmer need to recruit and how many?
2. What kind of server need to host?
3. your value suggestions ?

Thanks guys.

how do you get a diploma in CS and adv diploma in CE, so that you can be lost in the programming field? Maybe if you feel you are lost, go join a IT firm and get some real working experience before you even start to do this?

There are a lot more to just knowing how to code and start coding to achieve a good software and a good business model.

Some starting questions for your thoughts
1. what are you doing that is different from redbus.my so that your audience will want to use you rather than them?
2. what is the incentives for your users and also the bus companies to work with you?
3. how much are you going to charge as margin? is it enough for you to cover your operational cost and also your capital investment?
4. what kind of programmers are you going to engage and for how Long? do you still need these programmers through out the business or you want to hire a company to do it? between the ramp up of the business, development of the software and subsequently maintain the software, the labour requirement differs?
5. besides just programmers, who else you are hiring?
6. mobile apps can be native or hybrid or maybe just a mobile web responsive site, which is required?
7. do you need mobile Push notification, location sensing and other services?
8. how Long has you planned your ROI?

there are tons of questions beyond just the 8 above. your question does means like just a matter of software development, rather a startup business.

To be frank, if you need to aimlessly ask for these basic questions here, I personally don't think you are readily equipped with the knowledge to kick start something that big. why not be more realistic and get a job that has to do with software development and learn the ropes. learn how projects are run, how they are costed, what kind of software and hardware a project uses, how project are maintained and what are the service level, operations and so forth other requisites are involved.

my sincere opinion to your endeavour for your consideration.

 

[name = user]

Thanks for your reply.
Actually you have a very good points.
But I'm 36+ and doing other business on my own.
so i dont want to work as programmer which is not a good idea for my age. I'm just saying that i have some basic programming background.
I have capital to start the business. by the way its not for here.
I have to recruit oversea people.

For 1 to 4 and 8, is long answer as it oversea project and need to explain a lot.
5 - programmers only as company start. after product launch there will be admin, accountant, promoters.
6 - either hybrid or mobile web
7 - only SMS ( because over there ppl off their data. only on when they want to go online)


I'm just want to recruit the right local programmer for this project. need 2 languages (eng and local).

 

[davidktw]

Thanks for your reply.
Actually you have a very good points.
But I'm 36+ and doing other business on my own.
so i dont want to work as programmer which is not a good idea for my age. I'm just saying that i have some basic programming background.
I have capital to start the business. by the way its not for here.
I have to recruit oversea people.

For 1 to 4 and 8, is long answer as it oversea project and need to explain a lot.
5 - programmers only as company start. after product launch there will be admin, accountant, promoters.
6 - either hybrid or mobile web
7 - only SMS ( because over there ppl off their data. only on when they want to go online)


I'm just want to recruit the right local programmer for this project. need 2 languages (eng and local).

As a startup, unless what you are developing is a niche IP which you don't want others to get hold of, or you or your partner are the experts, then you can consider doing it yourself. Otherwise I would like to recommend that you search for a good SI to manage the programming team as well as the development. You will want to do this because for a startup, you can't continue to feed or incur cost to maintain a team when you have little to do. Only consider taking over the system when your business is earning and you have more to offer for your programmers to stay put with your company which has an indication of future. Otherwise you will be doing them a disfavour.

Whether you are engaging overseas or local to where your business is, depends a lot on the partnership. One thing I have learnt managing offshore development team is communication and commitment is a very hard thing. The PM need to work doubly hard and have very good business processes and always on the ball to keep everything in check. The PM will need to undertake a large effort to sanitise the work and to go through the involvement in communicating when the development team leader and this is often not easy. As oppose to a local time, you can always go and approach the SI or partner on site and speak with them and get message across either face to face. Also you will experience better communication due to cultural similarity. Cultural differences can be a very real deterrent to ensuring fruitful deliverables.

If SMS is what you want, you can either source out a local SMS gateway or ISP to supply this service. Global SMS works but could potentially be more hefty on the cost. You will need to calculate that. Clickatell is one such SMS gateway service

If you are using an outsource project team, then pertaining to running the project, I foresee you will require a good PM. Important that this PM is also technically savvy. otherwise you will need a PM and also a TechLead. You will need someone you can trust to vet through the technical feasibility of the project. These staffs are better to be your partner rather than your employee so that they will have vested interested to ensure success of the business.

As for your other partners or staffs, such as admin, sales, marketing or bizdev, I believe you can sort that out yourself.

 

[name = user]

thank you. i noted.

 

[pulsecch]

1. Prepare lotsa capital, I would put your project at a ball park of 50k ish, Google for it,there're many Indian firms who can take your project end to end
2. You can consider Amazon web services + bitnami as a console, it's free first year
3. I agree with davidktw