NETCETERA ACQUIRES ROUTERANK TO PROMOTE AN ECO-FRIENDLY MULTI-MODAL MOBILITY APP

Netcetera, a Swiss software company, has acquired routeRANK, the Lausanne-based door-to-door route planning specialist. With this strategic merger, the two companies aim to enable multi-modal mobility worldwide.

The newly acquired expert know-how and technological expertise will enable Netcetera to offer comprehensive services along the digital passenger journey: efficient and ecological route planning, passenger information, and ticketing.

Netcetera acquired 100% of routeRANK – which was at ETH Lausanne in 2006 by the mathematician Jochen Mundinger – in June 2022. The company specialises in multi-modal route planning and offers outstanding digital solutions in travel and mobility, including all modes of transport.

The routeRANK system calculates the best possible routes according to various criteria such as price, travel time, and CO2 emissions for all relevant modes of transport and their combinations. This means integrating various transportation modes such as railway, public transport, car-sharing, bicycle, and others. In a single search, its patented technology finds and ranks the best possible routes, allowing users to sort them according to multiple criteria such as price, travel time and CO2 emissions.

Netcetera has been accompanying transport companies into digitalisation for years and combines technical expertise with deep industry knowledge. The software company drives mobile ticketing, passenger information, digital stops, and customised services in digital and smart mobility. Its experts have knowledge and experience in data management for real-time and schedule information solutions. In addition, Netcetera combines innovative payment and ticketing approaches with the latest mobile technologies.

Stronger together for multi-modal and smart mobility

With this acquisition, Netcetera strengthens its mobility business and expands its network. routeRANK’s solutions are the ideal complement to Netcetera’s existing portfolio. By broadening its offering, Netcetera can open new business areas and meet today’s demands for multi-modal mobility.

Oliver Aeschlimann, head of product and market strategy digital Enterprise explains: “With this strategic expansion of our portfolio in the field of smart mobility, we are able to offer our customers new comprehensive services. With end-to-end multi-modal planning, travel information provisioning, and ticketing, we can cover the entire travel cycle. The flexibility, speed, and precision of the routeRANK platform allow us to expand our offering at stations or for business customers to offer divers mobility solutions along with their business needs, such as minimising CO2 emissions.”

Jochen Mundinger, who stays on as CEO and chairman of routeRANK, added: “We decided to take this step to further expand our core business. The expertise and technical background of the two companies complement each other well and they have a similar mindset. We benefit from Netcetera’s existing structures and resources as well as by bundling sales channels. This will also allow us to better support our customers.” Jochen Mundinger remains CEO of routeRANK and takes on the role of Co-Head Portfolio Smart Mobility at Netcetera.

Competencies and talents

Thanks to routeRANK, Netcetera gains valuable skills: All ten experts join the Netcetera team. “We are delighted that the entire team will become part of Netcetera. We appreciate this trust in us very much,” says Gabriele Brechbühl, Managing Director Digital Enterprise at Netcetera. “This new location in Lausanne also opens up our proximity to IT talents in Western Switzerland. We are happy to be an employer in French-speaking Switzerland and to offer a great place to work.”