Connecting Vendors: Data Integration for K-12 Transportation

Today’s K-12 student transportation suite is filled with technology solutions for nearly any challenge. School bus telematics (both OEM supplied and aftermarket solutions), tablets, cameras, fleet maintenance software, route planning, and parent apps are some of the items that make up a long list of options, often described as an “Internet of Things”. It’s no secret that getting data to sync across this software and hardware technology is key to success, and no secret that it’s a challenge. Manually re-entering the same data in multiple applications is time-consuming and leaves room for error. Semi-manual techniques such as exporting and uploading spreadsheets are only marginally better. The process of connecting all the relevant data sources is daunting, but there is a solution to this dilemma — an Integration Platform as a Service, or iPaaS.

What is an iPaaS?

An iPaaS solution can empower student transportation leaders with trusted integrations between technology systems to maximize data accuracy and efficiency. It takes the data generated by GPS/AVL devices, cameras, onboard tablets, transportation management software, and the ever-growing list of technology solutions transportation managers interact with every day, enabling it to flow together seamlessly. Technologically speaking, an iPaaS is a suite of cloud services that enable the development, execution, and governance of integration flows connecting data from multiple locations across multiple organizations. This increases the value and security of that data.

When compared to basic comma-separated values (CSV) flat file transfers, an iPaaS solution provides more convenience and, more importantly, more data security. iPaaS API file integrations serve different purposes and have distinct advantages, including access to real-time data. Onboard iPaaS allows connections and data synchronization between various systems, applications, and services automatically. In contrast, CSV flat file transfers typically involve timely manual or batch processes for data import and export.

Watch this short video to learn more about the fundamentals of OnBoard iPaaS.

Real Stories: Integration in Action

But what does it look like when an iPaaS solution is used? Where do you feel the benefits? 

To help bring this new technology to life, the team at Tyler Technologies — provider of the Onboard iPaaS solution — reached out to their network of trusted vendors to explain some of the ways that seamless integration through the Tyler solution works for them. 

Keep reading to learn about some of the key integration use cases made to meet the unique needs of school districts and school bus contractors across the U.S. and Canada.

Dependable Dispatch and Timesheet Integrations

Bytecurve is a well-known K-12 transportation solution provider that uses Onboard iPaaS to access Tyler route data, vehicle locations, and driver clock-in/clock-out. The Bytecurve solution uses this data to optimize dispatch operations for school buses and to compute time and attendance reports based on customer-specific business rules.  

Card Management for Student Ridership

Creating and issuing replacement radio-frequency identification (RFID) cards is a vital aspect of a student ridership solution. CI Solutions offers outsourced batch card printing services, ensuring that school districts are prepared for the beginning of the school year. Additionally, they provide on-site card printing services to generate replacement cards and new ones for students entering the school system during the school year. CI Solutions relies on Onboard iPaaS to provide accurate and timely access to student ridership data that is required to produce student ID cards.

Streamlined and Combined AVL for School Districts and Bus Contractors

Onboard iPaaS enables vendors, including CalAmp K-12 and WheresTheBus, to seamlessly integrate between their AVL data and Tyler’s routing solutions. This ensures accurate route and AVL data is maintained to support comparative analysis reports and dashboards, and to power parent apps that provide bus location insights to parents and caregivers. 

School districts benefit from updated information, including stop assignments, route definitions, and bus assignments. Districts can automatically review which students have been picked up or dropped off, as well as which students require transportation on a given day.

School bus contractors gain additional benefits: Onboard iPaaS streamlines data management from multiple sources, including when those sources are spread across multiple school districts. Data from telematic solutions, including Geotab and CalAmp, are reconciled and made available in real time. This also works for contractors who have built their own proprietary AVL solutions that include business rules tuned to their respective operations. With Onboard iPaaS, these contractors can leverage Tyler’s routing data, including bus routes, bus stop assignments, and eligible student riders for their school district customers, while helping to keep each of their school district customers’ data separate, safe, and secure. 

Fleet Maintenance Management Integrations for the Modern Bus Garage

It is important for a vehicle to be maintained at the proper frequency based on use. If routine maintenance is performed too often, consumables like oil, along with the time and resources of the maintenance team, are wasted. If routine maintenance is done beyond the recommended schedule based on miles driven, the system can become stressed and force the vehicle to be replaced sooner than planned. 

Automating the creation of work orders with Tyler or other fleet maintenance software and assistance from Onboard iPaaS will help streamline operations and reduce human errors fostered by manual techniques. 

Bus Camera Integrations to Bolster Driver Safety

Bus cameras not only record the dashboard view of the vehicle but can also detect deviations from normal driving behaviors. For example, if drivers are turning or braking too fast, the camera will track the behavior. Many modern cameras include GPS capabilities, and this data automatically integrates into the district’s routing system with the help of an API integration solution. Onboard iPaaS can be used to access video events and pinpoint the event on the AVL map for easy reference.

Video camera solutions can include an option for telematics. For customers with simple location use cases and no need for engine diagnostics and fault code reports, using the onboard camera can be a viable option. Camera vendors can leverage Onboard iPaaS to provide camera insights and GPS data to end users. 

Integrations for Enterprise Portal Systems

Some states have well-defined rules and regulations for their K-12 student transportation operations. The state Departments of Education provide tools and guidance to ensure their standards are met. To help manage the immense amount of data generated by the state’s school districts, Onboard iPaaS eases the burden and provides the state agency with a singular platform to bring the information together.

These regulated transportation features provide benefits in other K-12 aspects as well, particularly with district ERP systems and portals for monitoring total cost of ownership and school bus utilization and depreciation. 

Why Choose an Onboard iPaaS Vendor Partner?

Every district has unique demands for their data — different KPIs, state reporting requirements, school board proposals, or requests from the community. With a solution like Onboard iPaaS, school districts can work collaboratively to enable disparate teams and stakeholders to work together from the same data sets. And when districts work with application vendors that are part of Tyler’s Onboard iPaaS partner network, they can be assured their data and the integrations will work together seamlessly. 

Is Onboard iPaaS the right solution for you?

Learn more about API integrations, the Onboard iPaaS vendors who have already joined our network. vendors who have already joined our network. 

Vendors interested in joining the Onboard iPaaS partner network can download our flyer to learn more.

For more information contact Bill Westerman, director, integration solutions 978.202.8604 bill.westerman@tylertech.com