Problem Statement-
Design an interface (web or mobile) that could let people plan their circular journeys. The interface should deliver a seamless user experience that will allow users to plan their circular journeys, seek availability through Indian Railways, and book reservations. The users should feel in control of the process and close to requisite information as they plan their itinerary.
Sense Intent:
Let's consider the changing world around us-
Where is the world moving? In which area of people’s changing life patterns will our innovation fit in? Studied the trends causing the change in the current travel ecosystem - technology, business, culture, people, markets, and the economy.
Research & Findings:
A broad look at what is published and broadcasted at popular media-
Many forums and blogs catering information on IRCTC (Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation) Circular tickets, state a few major queries:
Discover:
What is a circular journey?
Who are the users(Target Users)?
Circular Journey Tickets - Basic Rules:
Type of circular journeys:
Type of routes offered:
How to book?
The process of applying:
The Cost Chart:
Circular ticket sample form:
The information available on the form:
How much money can you save?
Compared cost breakdown of travel without the circular journey and with the circular journey:
The process of Cancelling:
What is a Circular Journey?
A circular Journey is a trip that is roughly circular in nature, where no station(apart from the origin) is touched twice during the journey and it saves your time and money.
The traveler can not repeat any station again during the circular journey. The traveler finishes the journey at the same station from where he started. There are fixed routes as well which travelers are free to customize as per their own routes.
Circular Journey Tickets give you the benefit of telescopic rates, which are considerably lower than regular point-to-point fare. With these tickets, you not only save time but also the inconvenience of booking a ticket at each leg of the journey.
Who are the Users(Target Users)?
1. Pilgrims,
2. Tourists,
3. School Students
4. College Students
5. Businessman,
6. Family,
7. Honeymoon Couples
Circular Journey Tickets - Basic Rules
A traveler must start and end in the same city. A user cannot define his own circular journey route. A user can select a maximum of 8 break journeys or destinations on his route. The Southern railway zone offers fixed circular journeys too. (This contradicts the IRCTC offline booking rules, which states – Southern Railway doesn’t offer a fixed circular journey.) While selecting his locations, the route listing automatically modifies to display the routes with the closest match to his entries. When the user selects the number of break journeys it affects a. Distance factor. b. Ticket Validity factor.
When the user selects the number of break journeys it doesn't affect a. Cost Factor. (Cost is charged for the entire circular journey.) Ticket validity is defined as a sum of a. No. of Journey days. b. No. of Break journey days. (For every destination the traveler stops, the ticket validity accounts for the fact that a user may spend 3 days at this location. Regardless of whether he opts to stay for those 3 days or less.) Journey distance is defined as the sum of a. Journey days (400 km equals 1 day) b. Break journey days (200 km equals 1 day)
The cost factor is affected by
a. Class of travel.
b. No. of seats.
c. Senior citizens can avail of a discount (Male 40% & Female 50% on every 1000 km)
d. In case the passenger is upgraded to a higher class (Pays the difference).
Should be able to modify and adjust his journey after the costing and schedule have been displayed. Have a schedule along with the invoice mailed to him after the payment So far I have listed all my thoughts, assumptions, and research.
Type of Circular Journeys:
1. Standard circular journey tickets are pre-decided routes, and if any of these itineraries appeal to you, you can apply for one and save out on time.
2. Non-standard circular journey tickets.
Type of routes offered:
How to book?
Once your itinerary is finalized, you can approach the Divisional Commercial Manager of the Division of certain major stations to which the journey commencing station belongs.
The Divisional Commercial Manager or the station authorities will then calculate the cost of the tickets based on your itinerary.
He will also inform the Station Manager of the same in a prescribed format.
You can purchase Circular Journey Tickets by presenting this form at the Booking Office of the station where you propose to start your journey.
After purchasing the Circular Journey Ticket, you must approach the Reservation Office to reserve your accommodation for various laps of your journey.
You will then be issued a reserved journey ticket for the journey.
Process of applying: (An Example)
Circular Ticket Sample Form:
The information available on the form:
1. Date of issue
2. Type of circular ticket (Standard, Non-standard)
3. Station name (Starting station — destination)
4. Train name, number
5. Journey Date
6. No. of passengers
7. Distance
8. Passenger names, Age, class type
9. Date (from, to)
10. Nature of concession
11. Issuing authority
12. Fare, Reservation charges, Total amount
13. Name, Sign of Station Manager
14. Date of arrival
How much money can you save?
It depends on how long your total journey is for. If you know about the Indian Railway fare system. The longer the journey lesser will be the cost of the ticket per km.
For Example:-
For Example:-
Distance Price of ticket > Cost per km
-----------------------------------------------------------
135 km ₹ 150 > ₹ 1.2 per km
1000 km ₹ 350 > 0.35 paisa per km
2200 km ₹ 500 > 0.22 paisa per km
Booking one ticket means less cost per km. So, under a circular journey ticket, you calculate the total distance and pay the ticket fare accordingly. And you can have the privilege to break the journey that's where you really save the money!
1000 km ₹ 350 > 0.35 paisa per km
2200 km ₹ 500 > 0.22 paisa per km
Booking one ticket means less cost per km. So, under a circular journey ticket, you calculate the total distance and pay the ticket fare accordingly. And you can have the privilege to break the journey that's where you really save the money!
Compared cost breakdown of travel without the circular journey and with the circular journey:
Let's say your journey starts from Delhi and the trip is something like this > Trip plan
Starting Point-1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th End
Delhi > Jaipur > Ahmedabad > Mumbai > Goa > Cochin > Bangalore> Kanyakumari > Chennai > Delhi
Total distance (in km’s) : 7304 km’s
Cost breakdown of travel without the circular journey
Delhi-Jaipur-Ahmedabad-Mumbai-Goa-Cochin-Bangalore-Kanyakumari-Chennai-Delhi
Distance(km) : 309 + 625 + 480 + 764+ 847 + 623 + 752 + 726 + 2178
Fare (₹) : 155 + 274 + 229 + 300+ 327 + 274 + 286 + 300 + 528
Total cost without circular journey ticket: ₹ 2673
Cost per km traveled : 2673/ 7304 km = 0.35 paisa per km
The cost of a circular journey ticket for 7000 km’s is ₹ 1104
That means cost per km comes to around: 1104 / 7304 = 0.15 paisa per km!
Total savings:-
In sleeper class = 2673 - 1104 = 1569 (₹ saved) > Total discount > 60% !
This means
In 3rd AC if a journey costs 10,000 rupees you can save around 6,000 rupees.
In 2nd AC if a journey costs 20,000 rupees you can save around 12,000 rupees.
The process of Cancelling:
The traveler first needs to cancel the reservation and then submit all tickets to the booking office.
In the case of partial cancellation, the traveler can put an application to Chief Commercial Manager, else the traveler can apply for the refund (TDR) after completing the journey.
Presently in such scenarios, the concerned authority cancels the whole ticket and asks the traveler to book again.
Mind Map:
Trend Matrix:
Assumptions:
From - To Exploration:
Swot Analysis:
User Interviews:
Insights:
Persona Definition:
Ideation:
Concept Generation Matrix:
Concept Scenario Sketch:
Framing Solutions:
Into the world of possibilities-
Exploring concepts/ideas most relevant to the insights yet paying attention to the larger picture, generating concepts, and communicating those through effective storytelling.
Information Architecture:
Level 1- Home to search result Level 2- Login, PAX popover & Reservation flow Level 3- Review, Payment, Confirmation
Solution Wireframe:
Home Screens & Login Screens
Detailed User Flow Screen:-
Home- Enter Starting City:
Search Result - Choose your favorite route, starting city:
Support - Live chat or query support:
Filters - Refine zones, Duration, No, of days, Cities:
Shortlist- Keep aside the routes you liked:
Reservation:
Reservation Flow:
Review & Payment:
Achievement:
It had been an amazing journey enjoyed doing it. The solution is still at an initial level, it can be detailed out more. Lots of other issues like cancellation, partial cancellation, refund process, and booking via journey are yet to be covered.
User interfaces look way different than they used to just a couple of years ago — user interfaces (UIs) are becoming less cluttered and more contextual. Preferences are shifting toward a simpler interface, stripping the UI to its very basic, necessary elements. Most skeuomorphic patterns are in the past, and now users wish to see flat, simple, and minimal design solutions that is what I have tried to do it here. Minimalism is at the forefront of this movement. All modern design guidelines, such as Material Design, iOS Human Interface Guidelines, and Metro design language take inspiration from minimalism.
In the end, it’s not about particular devices or technologies. It’s about the problems users face and the ways we can solve them using the most effective technology available. As a designer I constantly ask myself, how can I help users complete a task quicker, easier, and more enjoyable way?
In a multi-device world, we have the opportunity to inspire users to do more with the apps we invest our time and energy into developing. This way, we can help them exceed their own expectations and make the biggest impact using our design and development resources.
