Hwik Bit to introduce innovative public mobility service in Busan

[Photo by Yonhap]

Hwik Bit Inc., a South Korean logistics as a service (LaaS) provider, will launch trial operations of an innovative public mobility service in Busan that integrates urban railway and parcel distribution.

According to multiple sources from the information technology industry on Thursday, Hwik Bit has recently established a trial operations plan with Busan Transportation Corp. under Busan Metropolitan City to provide a Busan Metro-based logistics service.

Under the plan, Hwik Bit will establish a smart locker that can be connected to a smart logistics application TAGLO at 43 stations on Busan Metro Line 2 later this year. TAGLO – developed by Hwik Bit for the project – is a parcel distribution platform linked with smart lockers.

Officials from Busan Transportation and Hwik Bit noted that they are aiming to commercialize the service as early as in the third quarter.

When a sender places the parcel inside the smart locker and makes delivery payment using the TAGLO app, the carrier, who is also a subway passenger, delivers the parcel to another locker at the destination station.

The carrier can deliver the parcel using only the subway as it is transported from one smart locker to another. The carrier will receive digital tokens for the service instead of cash, which can be used to charge transportation cards or as regional vouchers.

Mybi Card Inc., a prepaid transportation card company, and LOCA Mobility Corp., an integrated transportation card terminal device company, will also join the project.

Industry insiders note that once the service becomes available, there will be the potential for passengers of all ages to hop on the subway for free from a public perspective if they take part in the parcel delivery service.

“Anyone using the subway can join the platform in a short period of time and generate profit,” said an unnamed official from the mobility industry.