Muscat – The Smart Bus app, developed by Omani entrepreneur Ahmed bin Hamed al Kharusi, is revolutionizing the safety of school transportation across 14 countries. The app is a comprehensive electronic system designed to manage, track, and ensure the safety of children traveling to and from school.
In an interview with Muscat Daily, Kharusi described the app as a valuable tool for parents, school administrations, and bus operators, providing essential data to ensure the safe transportation of students. The process of using the Smart Bus app is simple: schools register on the platform, upload necessary information, and keep parents informed electronically.
Originally launched in Oman, the app has now expanded to other countries including the UAE, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Palestine, South Africa, Yemen, Libya, Sudan, Turkey, Qatar, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia. It has also received recognition from the United Nations for its significant contribution to child safety in transportation and has been trademarked in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
Kharusi shared the journey of the app’s development, starting with basic tracking methods in 2019 and evolving into a sophisticated system launched in 2022. “It prioritizes the security of children, offering peace of mind to guardians and streamlining transportation management for schools,” Kharusi explained.
The app faced challenges in its development, especially in integrating a high-quality system and gaining acceptance from schools and parents. However, these hurdles were overcome through dedication and significant investment. “Marketing and delivery to schools posed challenges initially, but the app gradually gained acceptance, and parents started requesting its implementation in their children’s schools,” he added.
The Smart Bus app allows real-time monitoring of school buses, tracks student attendance, and manages leave and permits electronically. Currently available in both Arabic and English, the app plans to expand language support to reach a broader, global audience. Additionally, its ‘Chats’ service enables schools to send instant messages to parents and communicate directly with bus supervisors and drivers, including the option to attach files or pictures.
In the current academic year, over 400 schools in Oman are using the Smart Bus system. Kharusi aims to expand the app’s international reach further. The integration of Google Cloud and Oracle services has enhanced the app’s technical capabilities, ensuring fast response times and system flexibility on a global scale.
This innovative approach to school transportation safety demonstrates the power of technology in safeguarding children and represents a major achievement for Omani entrepreneurship on the international stage.
