Dubai: The first session of the Government Innovation Lab held last June with the participation of university students, CEOs, and directors of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) was deemed a success, with as many as 15 innovative ideas generated with the aim of developing RTA’s business sector services.

Located at the premises of Dubai Tram at Al Sufouh, RTA’s Innovation Lab is the first government innovation lab in Dubai.

Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the RTA, said a total of 21 ideas were first brought up but, after consideration, six were eliminated.

“The Innovation Lab, featuring the participation of several CEOs, directors of the RTA as well as university students and representative of Earnst & Young, has generated 21 ideas covering four agencies (six ideas for the Licensing Agency, and five ideas each for the Traffic and Roads Agency, Rail Agency, and Public Transport Agency),” he said, “Following discussions and reviewing such ideas and initiatives, eight ideas were endorsed, seven ideas will be subjected to more studies, and six ideas were eliminated.”

Al Tayer said the selection of RTA services to the business sector as a theme for the inaugural session of the Innovation Lab is attributed to several considerations.

“The lab was highlighted by the keenness to realise ‘People’[s Happiness’; a top priority of our wise leadership,” he said. “Moreover, the economy is one of the key development drivers in the UAE in general and Dubai emirate in particular. Dubai is continuously seeking to nurture an environment hospitable to global investments and launch a variety of economic projects.”

The RTA offers 66 services to the business sector deliverable via several channels: 27 through smartphones, 23 through the website, 53 through customer service centre, 17 through the call centre (8009090), six through RTA Departments, and two via the self-service system.

“The RTA will embark on the implementation of the deliverables of the Innovation Lab as early as next September,” Al Tayer said, “Among the key ideas and initiatives that will be implemented is the smart system of managing billboards, which will cut short the frequent visits to RTA customer service centres.”

The ideas

Al Tayer said that among the initiatives put forward is ‘Akas’, an idea to fit RTA vehicles with cameras and surveillance systems to spot illegal taxi services.

“Other initiatives include Your Business Manager calling for appointing dedicated account managers for companies depending on the classification of their scope of work. The system will be designed in order to follow up their needs and offer excellent services to them. Initiatives to be implemented this year also include preparing an electronic guide for investment opportunities in Dubai Metro stations to introduce the investment prospects at Metro stations, display information needed by investors such as advertisement area, dimensions and the location of the station.

“In 2016 and 2017 the RTA will implement three initiatives — the e-Limo system relating to the automation of procedures enabling limo firms to process their transactions online without obliging them to visit customer service centres. The second is Test and Drive initiative enabling the motorist to leave the test facility upon completion of the technical testing of the vehicle and the centre will cater to the rest of procedures including the dispatch of the registration card by post. In the third quarter of 2016, the RTA will introduce Smart Service Centres involving the opening of RTA counters at the premises of mega firms to process transactions of RTA services.

“The RTA will subject seven ideas and initiatives to further study. These include offering a Ladies Limo service targeting businesswomen and authorising approved auto dealers in the UAE to carry out the technical testing of vehicles as part of the periodic maintenance programmes.

Seven labs

Al Tayer stated that the RTA would hold this year seven innovation labs across affiliated agencies and sectors. The first lab will consider how to cope with the congestion experienced by the Dubai Metro, and the second will discuss limiting visits to customer service centres by 80 per cent in 2018. The third lab will discuss the technical testing of vehicles and the fourth will examine traffic bottlenecks. The fifth lab will review improvement projects of marine transport systems, the sixth will focus on simplifying services and procedures for NOL card-holders, and the seventh will look into the outlines of RTA’s Strategic Plan 2030.