Ono Town in Kanazawa City Enhances Public Transit with SWAT Mobility's On-Demand Transport

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Ono Town in Kanazawa City Upgrades Public Transit with SWAT Mobility

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Residents of Ono Town in Kanazawa City are now benefitting from a significant upgrade to their public transportation infrastructure with the recent launch of a new on-demand transport service, powered by SWAT Mobility. Following successful implementations in Wajima City and Kaga City within Ishikawa Prefecture, this latest project marks a key step up in Kanazawa City’s commitment to providing a reliable and efficient transportation system for its community.

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Recognising existing limitations within the regional transportation system, Ono Town sought a solution to better serve the mobility needs of its residents, aimed at ensuring transportation for daily life such as going to the hospital or shopping for residents in the area. Extensive discussions and data analysis, including a detailed examination of transport network data and passenger travel history, between Ono Town and Kanazawa City since 2023, culminated in a strategic partnership with SWAT Mobility. This collaboration yielded an on-demand transportation service designed to complement the city's existing bus network, with a core focus on enhancing both service efficiency and scalability for the city.

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AI Technology for Efficient Mobility

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This new public transport system prioritises user-friendliness and scalability by offering residents app-based booking through the intuitive ‘Suitto Kanazawa’ smartphone application (available from one week in advance to 30 minutes before pickup). To ensure accessibility for all residents, a traditional call centre was also available for bookings to support individuals who were less tech-savvy.

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SWAT Mobility’s AI on-demand transportation technology was incorporated into taxi operators’ systems. By analysing a variety of data such as: Zenrin’s road network data, driving speed information, and travel data (reservation success rate and ride time trends), the system was able to maximise carpooling rates and ridership. This analysis also accounted for navigation complexities and local traffic patterns, ultimately delivering an optimised and efficient transportation service while fostering a more sustainable service for residents.

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Positive Early Impact and Future Vision

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The official launch of SWAT Mobility’s Demand Responsive Transport (DRT) on 14 April 2025, garnered a positive initial response, quickly demonstrating its potential to enhance access and improve mobility for Ono Town residents. This newly established transport network system empowered residents to carry out their daily activities with greater ease, facilitating independent travel to places such as the post office, town community centre, and shops. This fostered increased social engagement within the community.

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This initiative underscored Ono Town’s dedication to embracing smart mobility solutions to enhance the quality of life for its residents. The partnership with SWAT Mobility highlighted the growing trend of leveraging technology to create more responsive, efficient, and sustainable public transportation networks in urban centres.

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