AI-Driven Development
AI-Driven Development
2025
2025
BusNext: From AI Transit Alerts to Waiting Economy
Beyond Shopping: From Inspiration to Product
BusNext: From AI Transit Alerts to Waiting Economy
A 0-to-1 side project that leveraged AI to solve commute anxiety caused by unpredictable bus schedules, transforming it into precise, automated alerts. By further defining this "waiting time," I explored ways to turn fragmented commute gaps into potential business touchpoints, expanding into the "wait economy" market.
A 0-to-1 side project that leveraged AI to solve commute anxiety caused by unpredictable bus schedules, transforming it into precise, automated alerts. By further defining this "waiting time," I explored ways to turn fragmented commute gaps into potential business touchpoints, expanding into the "wait economy" market.
Problem Statement
Commuters’ Overlooked Waiting Anxiety
Commuters’ Overlooked Waiting Anxiety
Many commuters experience morning anxiety caused by unpredictable transit. Users are often forced to arrive early to wait at the stop, or fall into a loop of checking their phones for the bus status.
As commuters, our daily commute routines are highly repetitive: the same time, same route and same stop. The solution isn’t another complex app. What’s actually needed is a smart assistant that understands these habits and tells you exactly when to step out.
Many commuters experience morning anxiety caused by unpredictable transit. Users are often forced to arrive early to wait at the stop, or fall into a loop of checking their phones for the bus status.
As commuters, our daily commute routines are highly repetitive: the same time, same route and same stop. The solution isn’t another complex app. What’s actually needed is a smart assistant that understands these habits and tells you exactly when to step out.
Design Solution
Design Solution
Proactive Alerts Based on Commute Habits
Beyond Shopping: From Inspiration to Product
Proactive Alerts Based on Commute Habits
Most commuters have fixed habits, so I leveraged AI to build a proactive alert service within LINE Official Account. This system turns "searching for buses" into "receiving notifications," letting users to personalize their experience through the following controls:
Most commuters have fixed habits, so I leveraged AI to build a proactive alert service within LINE Official Account. This system turns "searching for buses" into "receiving notifications," letting users to personalize their experience through the following controls:
Recurring Schedules
Define your exact monitoring window, such as weekdays from 8:00 to 9:00 AM.
Define your exact monitoring window, such as weekdays from 8:00 to 9:00 AM.
Daily Route & Stop
Select and save your regular bus routes and preferred boarding stations.
Select and save your regular bus routes and preferred boarding stations.
Set a Buffer Lead Time
Set a preferred buffer (e.g., 10 minutes) to be notified before the bus reaches your stop.
Set a preferred buffer (e.g., 10 minutes) to be notified before the bus reaches your stop.
Real-time Control
Access live bus locations or pause remaining alerts with a single tap once you’re on board.
Access live bus locations or pause remaining alerts with a single tap once you’re on board.
No Extra App Downloads
No Extra App Downloads
Users don’t need to download new apps or search the websites for status updates.
Users don’t need to download new apps or search the websites for status updates.
Intuitive Setting
Intuitive Setting
Setting the routine routes and stops by chatting with the bot, which minimizes cognitive load and friction.
Setting the routine routes and stops by chatting with the bot, which minimizes cognitive load and friction.
No Notification Fatigue
No Notification Fatigue
To prevent notification fatigue, users can silence remaining alerts for the day with a single tap.
To prevent notification fatigue, users can silence remaining alerts for the day with a single tap.
Instant Bus Tracking
Instant Bus Tracking
A button provides real-time bus locations, giving commuters the confidence to manage their schedule.
A button provides real-time bus locations, giving commuters the confidence to manage their schedule.
Research & Insight
Research & Insight
License Plates for Building Trust
License Plates for Building Trust
During user testing, we found that people often skeptical data from new tools. Adding the actual bus license plate number makes the information feel more real. It confirms that the bus exists and its location is correct, which helps users feel much more safe.
During user testing, we found that people often skeptical data from new tools. Adding the actual bus license plate number makes the information feel more real. It confirms that the bus exists and its location is correct, which helps users feel much more safe.
Technical Architecture
Technical Architecture
Technical Architecture
Efficient Resource Management
Efficient Resource Management
Efficient Resource Management
Using Google Apps Script (GAS) as the central hub to connect the LINE Official Account with the TDX transit data platform. This setup optimizes resource consumption for specific scenarios and high-traffic routes.
Using Google Apps Script (GAS) as the central hub to connect the LINE Official Account with the TDX transit data platform. This setup optimizes resource consumption for specific scenarios and high-traffic routes.
Using Google Apps Script (GAS) as the central hub to connect the LINE Official Account with the TDX transit data platform. This setup optimizes resource consumption for specific scenarios and high-traffic routes.
Dynamic Frequency Monitoring
Dynamic Frequency Monitoring
The system activates only during the commute windows. It stays in low-frequency query mode when the bus is far away.
The system activates only during the commute windows. It stays in low-frequency query mode when the bus is far away.
Grouping by Route for API Efficiency
Grouping by Route for API Efficiency
Users on the same route are grouped into a single request to maximizes API efficiency and ensures stable performance under high traffic.
Users on the same route are grouped into a single request to maximizes API efficiency and ensures stable performance under high traffic.
Lightweight Database Solution
Lightweight Database Solution
Using Google Sheets with a caching mechanism to store user preferences. This setup provides simple and effective state management.
Using Google Sheets with a caching mechanism to store user preferences. This setup provides simple and effective state management.
Future Potential
Future Potential
Future Potential
From Transit Tool to Waiting Economy
From Transit Tool to Waiting Economy
From Transit Tool to Waiting Economy
The core competitiveness lies in capturing high intent users during their wait. In the future, this platform can integrate targeted ads and local partnerships to transform waiting time into economic value.
The core competitiveness lies in capturing high intent users during their wait. In the future, this platform can integrate targeted ads and local partnerships to transform waiting time into economic value.
The core competitiveness lies in capturing high intent users during their wait. In the future, this platform can integrate targeted ads and local partnerships to transform waiting time into economic value.
☕️
15-Min Wait, Grab a Nearby Coffee?
15-Min Wait, Grab a Nearby Coffee?
When the system detects a 15 minute wait, it proactively recommends exclusive coupons for nearby shops. This turns waiting time into a convenient moment for a quick break.
When the system detects a 15 minute wait, it proactively recommends exclusive coupons for nearby shops. This turns waiting time into a convenient moment for a quick break.
🍽️
Pre-Order Integration
Pre-Order Integration
By connecting with food delivery platforms or local chains, users can pre-order meals before the bus arrives. This creates a high precision traffic for local merchants and turns passive waiting into active consumption.
By connecting with food delivery platforms or local chains, users can pre-order meals before the bus arrives. This creates a high precision traffic for local merchants and turns passive waiting into active consumption.
🧳
Beyond Bus, Point to Point Travel
Beyond Bus, Point to Point Travel
The concept can expand to any point to point travel, such as high speed rail or airport transfers. Matching personalized recommendations with specific waiting times opens up endless commercial possibilities.
The concept can expand to any point to point travel, such as high speed rail or airport transfers. Matching personalized recommendations with specific waiting times opens up endless commercial possibilities.
Thank you for watching
Thank you for watching
Thank you for watching
AI-Driven Development
AI-Driven Development
BusNext: From AI Transit Alerts to Waiting Economy
BusNext: From AI Transit Alerts to Waiting Economy
BusNext: From AI Transit Alerts to Waiting Economy
Zach Li
Zach Li
Zach Li
2025
2025
2025
Let’s connect 👋🏻
Let’s connect 👋🏻
Let’s connect 👋🏻
Hi, this is Zach Li
Please feel free to reach out below
Hi, this is Zach Li
Please feel free to reach out below
zachli0604@gmail.com
zachli0604@gmail.com