Flutter-built mobile app development solution for travellers FerryView

Mobile solution for travellers that allows to check availability, view up-to-date ferry crossing statuses on simplified maps, and access the latest alerts.

Image of FerryView app

About FerryView

John Lyon-Smith, a visionary entrepreneur, set out to improve the ferry experience for travellers using the Washington State Ferry System. The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) operates the largest ferry system in the United States, providing a critical transportation service across the Puget Sound and San Juan Islands. Given the importance of the system—transporting millions of passengers and vehicles annually, Lyon-Smith sought to develop an app that would tangibly improve user experience, simplify navigation, and provide fun, interactive journey for ferry passengers.

Scope

Product development

Vertical

Travel

Key results

  • Simplified user experience
  • Increased engagement
  • Better user retention
  • Monetisation

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01

The Challenge

The ferry system’s schedule is relatively consistent, with only minor disruptions caused by weather or mechanical issues. However, the system faces a significant challenge during peak travel times, particularly in summer and commuter hours when vehicle space is limited. There is often long lines that create frustration for drivers and passengers alike. 

The WSDOT’s existing ferry schedule is difficult to follow, especially for occasional travellers. Its train/bus timetable-style format is often confusing, and finding the next ferry for a specific route requires too many clicks, even when using a mobile app. Furthermore, the app and website lack entertaining or engaging elements, making the travel experience feel uncomfortable despite the enjoyable nature of ferry rides. 

To address these pain points, Lyon-Smith aimed to create a mobile app FerryView by Mozayik to deliver a user-friendly, visually appealing, and intuitive experience for passengers. He envisioned an app that would provide easy access to ferry schedules and car availability, along with fun, game-like graphics to elevate the ferry experience. 

The development process involved close collaboration between Lyon-Smith’s team and the development experts at Altamira. From the initial concept phase to the final release, Altamira played a key role in designing, developing, and refining the mobile functionality. On top of it, our development team worked alongside Lyon-Smith to ensure that the app would meet the target audience’s expectations and align with the broader goals of WSDOT. 

Among the major challenges we’ve faced was the integration of real-time ferry data via the WSDOT API, designing an engaging UI for various user segments, and ensuring smooth navigation within the app. 

02

The Solution

Altamira delivered FerryView by Mozayik mobile solution, a sleek and intuitive mobile app available on both Android and iOS. Key features of the app include the following

User-friendly route selection

Users can easily set their departure and destination routes, making it simple to check ferry schedules and vehicle space availability. This feature streamlines the ferry planning process, eliminating the complexity of WSDOT’s timetable format.

Real-time ferry schedule and spot availability

The app integrates directly with WSDOT’s public API, allowing users to access up-to-date ferry schedules and see how many vehicle spots are available in real-time.

Live camera feeds

For a more interactive experience, users can view live cameras streaming from ferry terminals. This feature allows them to check terminal conditions before departure, with an automatic refresh every 15 seconds.

Alerts and notifications

The app displays all relevant alerts for each route, keeping passengers informed about any delays or issues. Alerts are organised in a user-friendly list with infinite scrolls for easy browsing.

Analytics dashboard for admins

The admin panel, integrated with Firebase, provides real-time analytics on app usage, user demographics, and geographical data. This feature lets our Client make informed decisions about future app improvements and marketing strategies.

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03

The Result

The FerryView by Mozayik app achieved its initial business objectives, offering substantial improvements over the existing WSDOT mobile app and website: 

  • Simplified user experience: By streamlining the ferry schedule display and vehicle space availability, users can now access the information they need in fewer steps, significantly reducing frustration. 
     
  • Increased engagement: The incorporation of live cameras and interactive, fun elements elevated the ferry experience, making it more enjoyable for travellers. The app has become a go-to tool for commuters, tourists, and tradespeople alike. 
     
  • Better user retention: With intuitive design, useful features, and a gamified experience, the app keeps users coming back for more. The simplicity of route setup and live camera updates, in particular, have been well-received. 
     
  • Efficient data use: The real-time integration with the WSDOT API and alerts system allows passengers to plan their trips effectively, lowering the impact of delays or availability issues. 
     
  • Monetisation: As a paid app, FerryView by Mozayik successfully generates revenue through app downloads from the App Store and Google Play Market. The app has seen strong adoption rates, especially among infrequent travellers and vacationers who appreciate its simplicity and fun elements. 
     

As a result, Altamira has helped our Client solve disturbing user experience problems while introducing an engaging and easy-to-use solution that caters to all ferry riders—from vacationers to daily commuters.

Now I’ve seen your code on it and I also got a second opinion on it, and it looks amazing. The end result is good, and I’m happy with it!

John Lyon-Smith, Founder

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