TravInfo Evaluation: Value Added Reseller (VAR) Study

Problem and Method

From the interviews, it is clear that TravInfo has been effective in stimulating VAR business opportunities, as well as in resolving the issue of potential competition with the private sector.

At the same time, the results of the interviews indicate that the future is uncertain. VAR participation in TravInfo will depend on their satisfaction with TravInfo data and operations. Furthermore, many of the participants are involved primarily to test the ATIS market and their continued participation will depend on the size of the market they find for ATIS products and services.

Findings

TravInfo is a field operational test (FOT) of advanced traveler information systems (ATIS) for the San Francisco Bay Area. TravInfo aims to develop a multi-modal traveler information system for the San Francisco Bay Area, combining public and private sector talents. Private sector participation includes "Value-Added Resellers" (VARs) who will refine information generated by the TravInfo system and broadly disseminate it to end users.

Managers, responsible for products and/or marketing, at 17 of 20 registered VAR particpants along with 16 non-registered VARs were interviewed in the fall of 1995.