1. Minutes: will filter out any connection options that have more than X minutes in between trip results
2. Percentage: will filter out any trip results that are Y% longer than the other option.
   NOTE: Options i & ii work in conjunction! This means that option B will only be filtered out if it meets BOTH the minutes and the percentage criteria.

• Display the X number of fastest connecting trips - based on each departure/arrivel time, the connection engine will find the X fastest trips with the smallest duration. Trips which are longer than the X fastest trips will be removed.
• Display the X fastest groups of connection trips (preferring fastest trips when no group exist) - based on each departure/arrival time, the connection engine will search through all the trips and find the fastest X group, which may contain multiple trips with the same duration. When there is no groups exist, it will just show the X number of fastest trips.
• Display the X fastest groups of connection trips (preferring trips with fewest transfers when no group exist) -based on each departure/arrival time, the connection engine will search through all the trips and find the fastes X group, which may contain multiple trips with the same duration. When there is only one trip in the groups, it will show the X number of trips with fewer transfer. For example, if X set as 1, trip A has 2 transfers while trip B has 3, even trip B has shorter duration time, the connection engine will still show trip A.
• Connecting trips with the fewest transfers - based on each departure/arrival time, the trip result will show the top X fewest transfer trips
• When a direct trip is available, display only the fastest X connecting trips - If there are direct trips exist between the origin and destination, there will be another X number of fastest connection trips available for booking, ranked by the departure time.

Pathfinding options:

• Allow direct schedules to be used in connecting trips - When this option is checked, it will allow connection trips to use a direct trip (if applicable) while the direct trip is also displayed as a separate trip result. If it's unchecked, while there is a direct trip exist, all connection trips that contain this direct trip will be filtered out.
• Number of days of traffic to simulate - this number will set the limitation of displaying your longest trips in the trip result page. For example, if your longest trip covers 3 days but you set the number as 2, the trip results won't show up.

  8: Amenity group setup

  Before we can properly configure a schedule, there are a number of items that we must first consider and create before we create the schedule as these items will be associated at the schedule level.

  Now that we have configured various amenities, we can continue to make an amenity group.

  To create an amenity group, navigate to Admin -> Amenity groups and select click +Add new to arrive to the New Amenity Group screen.

  

  Name: Enter the name of the new amenity group.

  Amenity: Select the amenities that you wold like to include in the new amenity group.

  Enable*: If =true, the amenity group will be enabled.

  Disable If =true, the amenity group will be disabled.

  Click Save to update your changes and add your new amenity group to the list of amenity groups.

  

  9: Network operator setup

  If you intend on using agencies to sell your product, you will have to set yourself up as on operator.

  To do this, navigate to Admin -> Network and select the I am an operator flag.

  Click Save to save your changes.

  

  Once the flag has been enabled, you will be able to create network agencies to sell your product.

  Creating new network accounts

  In order to add an agency and provide them their own custom URL - follow these steps:

  Navigate to Admin -> Network, and click the + Add New button to arrive at the New Seller screen and complete the required fields.

  Company Name: Enter the name you would like to give the agency.

  Domain: Enter the URL that you would like to add to .betterez.com. EX. companyABC.betterez.com.

  Email: Enter the email you will assign to the admin user. IMPORTANT It should be the operators own email.

  Password: Enter the password for the email.

  Confirm passwored: Confirm and enter the password a second time.

  Comission Type: Use the dropdown menu to select the commission type as either % percentage, or $ dollar value.

  Commission: Enter the commission amount you wish to provide to the agency. IMPORTANT This is view only and will not calculate commission amounts to be paid.

  Access Network Data: If =true, the network seller will have access to the all data, network wide.

  Active: If =true, the network seller will be an active seller.

  

  *Important notes on configuration

  As an operator, you have the ability to customize which of your products, and fare types the agency can sell. You can also choose which payment methods they can accept, as needed.

  How to start selling

  When you login to the new agency account, the opening page will say 'New Shift' and direct you to select a location, but you will not be able choose anything from within the drop-down menu. This is because no stations have been created within this account.

  

  In order to start selling, a new station must be created. Note that this stop will not be added to any routes, and is solely for the purpose of recording a shift location.

  Navigate to Operations -> Stations, and click the +Add new' button. Fill in the 'Name', 'State/Province' and 'Zone' fields. We recommend leaving the 'Zone' as 1, and click 'Save'

  Now if you go back to the 'Sales' tab, you will see the new station name in the shift drop-down. Select this entry, and the account will be ready to sell tickets.

  

  10: Notifications setup

  With Betterez, you can actively monitor the capacity of your different schedules, the purchase of different products , and/or the purchase of special service requests by using the Notifications feature.

  To create a notification, navegate to Admin -> Notifications, and click the Add new button to arrive at the New Notification screen where you will begin the configuration of your new notification.

  

  Name: Enter the name for the notification.

  Event: Select the event type for which you would like to receive a notification: Purchase, Capacity, or Special Request.

  (If capacity is selected)

  Threshold %: Enter the capacity amount, if reached, that you would like to receive the alert. Ex. if you enter 80 you will receive an alert when the capacity of the schedule reaches 80% full.

  (If special service is selected) you have to select the SSR codes for which you would like to receive notifications when purchased.

  Product Lines: Select the product(s) that you would like to associate the notification with.

  System: Select Email.

  Sender: Select the email address from which you would like the notification(s) to be sent.

  Recipient:s Enter the recipients' e-mail to which you would like the alert to be sent. Note: When entering multiple e-mails, be sure to separate each ID with a comma.

  Disabled: If =true this notification will be disabled.

  Click Save to save your new notification.

  

  The following are examples of each type of email you will receive in the case of a:

  i) Capacity notification

  

  2. Special service notification

  

  3. Purchase notification

  

  11: Voucher setup

  Vouchers are promotional tools that are available for one-time redemption only, and cannot be distributed for multiple purchases. In order to create a new voucher you must first navigate to Admin -> Vouchers to be brought to the Voucher Settings screen.

  Enable vouchers for all products: If =true, vouchers will be available for all products.

  Terms & Conditions: Enter the specific term's and conditions that will accompany the voucher.

  Instructions: Enter the instructions of how to redeem the voucher.

  Click Save to save your voucher settings.

  

  Next, navigate to Operations -> Vouchers and complete the configuration on the New Voucher screen.

  Voucher

  Expiration Date: Enter the expiration date of the voucher.

  Product lines: Select the product(s) to which you would like to associate the voucher. You may choose multiple products.

  Value: Enter the value of the voucher.

  Currency: If your account is multicurrency, you will have to select the currency of the voucher you are going to create.

  Email To: Enter the customer's email address who will be receiving the voucher.

  Routes:

  From: Select from the dropdown list if you would like to make the voucher for use with a specific origin.

  To: Select from the dropdown list if you would like to make the voucher for use with a specific destination.

  Fares: Select from the dropdown list if you would like to make the voucher for use with a specific fare type.

  Customer In order to allow the voucher to be used by any customer, leave the name field blank and this way the voucher can be made available for multiple redemptions.

  IMPORTANT: The Customer name entered here must match the "Customer Name" field before the checkout (not the passenger name).

  First name: The customer's first name if you wish to make it customer specific.

  Last name: Enter the customer's last name .

  Click Save to save and send your new voucher. Once sent, the recipient will receive the voucher to the client's email.

  

  

  12: Gift certificate product setup

  Gift certificates are multi-use promotional tools, where operators can assign a discounted value from various base fares. Once enabled your organization will be able to sell gift certificates to your customers through the backoffice app and your customers will be able to redeem gift certificates with both the Betterez Backoffice app and through Betterez Websales app.

  In order to setup the gift certificate feature, navigate to Admin -> Gift certificates and select +Add new and enter the following information on the New Gift Certificate screen.

  

  Name: Enter the name of the gift certificate.

  Sales pitch: Enter a short sales pitch of the product.

  Price: Enter the price of the product.

  Value: Enter the value of the prodcut to the customer.

  Currency: If a multicurrency solution is enabled in the account, a dropdown list of the currencies enabled in the account will appear in order to determine which currency you would like to issue the gift certificate.

  Disabled: If checked, this product will not be available for sale.

  Taxable: If checked, this product will be taxable.

  Click Save when done entering the information.

  

  Gift certificate payment setup

  Finally, navigate to Admin - > Payments and ensure that gift_certificate is enabled as a payment provider. This feature allows you to turn Gift Certificates on or off.

  Click Save if you enabled it.

  

  Now a Gift Certificate program has been created for your team to sell to your passengers through the Betterez Backoffice app.

  If at any point you'd like to stop offering your new promotion, simply go to the created program and check the Disabled box and click Save.

  13: Operating company setup

  Before we can properly configure a schedule, there are a number of items that we must first consider and create before we create the schedule as these items will be associated at the schedule level.

  If you use different operating companies to operate specific routes and schedules and would like to identify them by official name and tax identification number on the ticket then this feature is for you.

  To configure an operating company, navigate to the Admin Menu -> Operating companies and then select +Add new to be brought to the New Operating Company screen.

  Operating company name: enter the operating company's legal name.

  Operating company info on printed ticket: enter what you would like to appear on the printed ticket. You are able to enter multiple lines in this section.

  When you are done, enable it and click Save.

  

  14: Operation messages setup

  Often there are events that are occurring in a certain location that have the ability to impact regular operations. Those events could be classified as insignificant or significant when considering the impact they will have on day-to-day operations.

  When service disruptions are insignificant, they may still be noteworthy and it may be necessary, but not obligatory, to notify customers. In other cases, the disruption may be so significant that service in a particular location may cease (for a period of time) altogether.

  The use of the operation messages feature will help communicate service disruptions/cancellations in a particular area to customers (via websales) and back-office users alike purchasing a reservation product or redeeming a flex-pass for a reservation.

  In order to configure an operation message, navigate to Admin -> Operation messages and select +Add New to proceed to the New operation message screen in order to begin the first of three steps in the configuration.

  

  Name: Enter the name of your new operation message.

  Effective start date and time: Enter the start date and time that you would like the operation message to appear in the UI.

  Effective end date and time: Enter the end date and time that you would like this operation message to disappear from the UI.

  Click Next to continue with the configuration.

  Message Configure the message that you would like to appear in the UI. Note You can add HTML to these messages and also add hyperlinks for example: "Station has moved to .... Example URL Link"

  Click Next to continue with the configuration.

  Type

  Warning If =true the operation message will appear as a warning (in an orange colour), but still allow the customer to proceed with the purchase. If warning is selected and a station is not associated to the warning, the warning message will apply to all stations network-wide.

  Out of Order If =true the operation message will indicate (in a red colour) that a particular station is not in service which will prevent the customer from proceeding with the purchase.

  Station Select the station for which you would like to warning or out of order operation message to appear.

  Display on ticket If =true if you would like the message to display on the ticket as a Customer notice.

  Enable If =true the operation message will be enabled.

  Disable If =true the operation message will be disabled.

  Click Save to save your progress. The new operation message should now appear in the List of Operations Messages.

  

  When the message appears on the trip search page, it is because the message applies to all schedules for the entire day.

  

  When the message appears on the trip results page, it is because the message only to a portion of schedules for that day.

  

  Operation messages that are configured will also apply to the websales channel.

  

  

  The operation message has will now show on the ticket if selected under the Customer notice: section.

  

  15: Promotion Setup

  The Betterez platform allows a user to configure different types of promotions. Simply navigate to Admin -> Promos and select + Add New to arrive at the New Promo screen.

  Coupon Code refers to the the code that will be assigned to the specific promotion.

  Campaign Name is the name given to the promotion campaign

  Name is the name that will appear in the drop down list in the shopping cart UI.

  Disabled if checked, the promotion will not appear in the UI in the list of promotions to apply to a transaction.

  

  Click New Rule to add a new rule for the promotion. It is possible to create multiple rules for the same promotion/promotional campaign.

  

  Value Type: refers to the whether the promotion type is a % (percentage), $ (dollar), or override price.

  Value: refers to the actual amount of the percentage, dollar, or override price.

  Only on backoffice: this flag will determine if the promotion is only meant for back-office use.

  Promotions can then use a number of different factors or combination of factors to determine the eligibility of the promotion including:

  by Product Line:

  • Trip type - Assign a promo for all trip types or only one way, or round trip
  • Route name - Assign a promo for all routes or only one specific route
  • Schedule name - Assign a promo for all schedules or only one specific schedule
  • Amenity group - Assign a promo for all amenity groups or only one specific amenity group
  • Day of the week - Assign a promo for all days of the week or only one/a few day(s) of the week

  Choose Segment:

  • From: Assign a promo for all or only one specific origen
  • To: Assign a promo for all or only one specific destination
  • Fare Type: Assign a promo for all or only one adult, child, student, senior, etc

  VALIDITY RULES:

  • Purchase Period (valid purchases within a range of dates)- Travel Start Date (range of dates)- Travel End Date (range of dates)- Valid Time Range (range of hours)

  Unlimited use: if this flag is checked, the promo will be for unlimited use.

  Limit qty: if the unlimited use flag is left unchecked, the user can define the number of uses for the promotion before it becomes invalid.

  CHANNELS

  Back End - If checked enables the promo for the back-office.

  Agency Back End - If checked enables the promo for the agency back-office.

  Web Sales - If checked enables the promo for websales.

  Agency Web Sales - If checked enables the promo for agency websales.

  By checking all checkboxes, the promotion would be available in Back-End, Agency Back End, Web sales and Agency Web sales.

  Here we can see how to use the previously created promotion in the shopping cart.

  

  IMPORTANT NOTES ON USING PROMOTIONS:

  • If the promotion was applied in error, simply clicking on the x will remove the applied promo from the shopping cart (as seen in the .gif above).- It is possible to apply multiple promos in the same transaction/shopping cart.
  • Our promo code setup is designed to respect the lowest hierarchy rule (i.e. Product -> Type -> Route) first within the list of constraints. For example: if a customer configures the promo to be of type 'Roundtrip', but also to apply for a specific route, then the discount will only apply to the leg of the journey that is within the designated route (when choosing a round-trip transaction) rather than applying to both legs. This is because the return leg is part of a different route, and therefore a new promo rule needs to be created to discount both legs.

  16: Product Lines

  To start selling on the Betterez platform and depending on which Betterez products you will be selling, you will need to create a new product line(s). First, navigate to Admin -> Product Lines. In the New Product Line screen click +Add new then select the product type.

  

  Here is a summary of what each product type does:

  1. Flex Pass -> Create a convenient and economical way for passengers to travel from certain origins and destinations with a pass that con be configured for specific periods of time and used to make reservations in advance.
  2. Paid in items -> This product is used if to sell ancillary items from your back office such as food, pillows, blankets, earphones, etc.
  3. Paid out items -> If an operator has expenditures and would like a shift to balance, paid out items are used.
  4. Parcel -> Sell parcel movements on your trips.
  5. Product Bundles -> Offer passengers discounts for multi-trip booklets.
  6. Reservation -> (Most commonly used Betterez product) Sell a ticket for a specific trip (date and time) with a specific, scheduled, origin and destination.
  7. Ticket -> Sell an open-ended ticket that provides a fixed origin and destination, but provides flexibility for when a passenger travels.