“Speed is a factor, but the ultimate thing is the result, which comes from perfection.” – Aziz Arman
YSSE: Tell us the story of ‘Jatri”s beginning.
Aziz Arman: I have always had to face several problems, including paying extra fares while traveling by public transport. I have always felt that this disorganization is a big problem, and it is even more difficult for the middle class or the lower class to cope with it. I had interacted with Jahin Bhai, the co-founder of Jatri, and my colleague, whom I had known for almost 7 years. It was from when I was still in university. As a family, they have been involved in the bus business for two decades and have their buses. I have learned many details about this business from Jahin Bhai’s father. Besides, we came to know that the bus owners were not able to make a proper profit due to the lack of transparency in the calculation of the average daily ticket sales. They are being deprived of their due dividends. Since I was already involved in technological work and my co-founders were involved in consumer sales and logistics work, ‘Jatri’ started with a plan to overcome these problems in the public transport sector through the use of technology. This was the beginning of a new journey.
YSSE: What challenges did you have to face in the initial days of ‘Jatri’?
Aziz Arman: Adaptation to the aspect of technology and saying yes to the change of being systematic.
YSSE: How do you educate people about ‘Jatri’?
Aziz Arman: We educate people through various online platforms and conventional offline campaigns. In both the ways mentioned, the common people are informed about our services in different ways and are made aware of their benefits and availability.
YSSE: What is the number of ‘Jatri’ users currently? How is their feedback?
Aziz Arman: Already, more than 100 million tickets have been sold using our system. As you may know, apart from providing our system at the institutional level in the public transport sector, we have two other services for personal use. We have a rent-a-car service for travel in 64 districts of the country, and we have an online bus ticketing facility to book bus tickets at home. Also, as an e-ticketing service customer in public transport, more than 4000 buses are using our service.
YSSE: Tell us about the technical aspects of ‘Jatri’. (as much as possible)
Aziz Arman: By bringing bus owners and operators under a network through digital platforms, every bus is associated with it, and information about daily activities is provided thereby. Uninterrupted bus operation is ensured at the same time. As a result, users are also assured of hassle-free travel at the exact fare. Moreover, people can travel safely to any part of the country by renting rental services at the best price from our platform. Furthermore, there is an opportunity to buy bus tickets online at home.
YSSE: How did you get so many buses on the same platform?
Aziz Arman: ‘Jatri’ is the only e-ticketing partner project for e-ticketing activities in public transport. ‘Jatri’ is also working as an e-ticketing partner in the ongoing bus route rationalization program in the capital. As a result of the continuity of these activities, the successful operational activities, and the positive role of the passengers, all the bus operators who are not covered by this service have expressed their interest in taking up this service.
YSSE: Tell us a little more about your name appearing on the Forbes list.
Aziz Arman: It is certainly a great honor for me and a major achievement in my career. I and my colleagues have worked tirelessly to digitize the public transportation sector over the past few years. My appearance on the Forbes list seems to me to be a recognition of my concentration, dedication, and hard work. I want to thank everyone. Hopefully, this achievement will inspire many others like me to achieve greater things in the future.
YSSE: What are your plans?
Aziz Arman: Expanding passenger service coverage in cities as well as suburbs and making the public transport sector technology-dependent to further improve and speed up the process with which we started our journey.
YSSE: What would you choose between speed and perfection? And why?
Aziz Arman: Perfection. Because, in the end, what matters is the result. Speed is a factor, but the ultimate thing is the result, which comes from perfection.
YSSE: What should people learn from entrepreneur Aziz Arman?
Aziz Arman: Never give up until you feel that’s enough. Always wait for the end.
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Writer,
Razna Rahman,
Intern
Content Writing Department,
YSSE.