SBS Transit Taps into IBM Maximo Application Suite for Intelligent Asset Management to Enhance Rail Operations and Maintenance

Joint News Release Issued by SBS Transit and IBM

At the Singapore International Transport Congress & Exhibition (SITCE) today, SBS Transit announced a new business collaboration with IBM (NYSE: IBM) to enhance its asset management systems with generative AI technology for its rail operations and maintenance projects.

In a first-of-its-kind collaboration in the Asia-Pacific, SBS Transit, a leading public transport operator, will leverage IBM Maximo Application Suite (MAS) and integrate it with its own Intellectual Property assets to create a unique solution for the rail industry. Notably, this solution will bring together intelligent asset management, almost real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance, and reliability planning functions on a single platform to deliver greater efficiency and robust decision-making in maintenance activities. SBS Transit plans to use Maximo Application Suite capabilities such as Manage, and work order intelligence which are powered by watsonx.

By integrating advanced monitoring and predictive maintenance solutions, SBS Transit’s engineers and technicians will be empowered with almost real-time data and predictive insights, enabling them to anticipate and resolve potential faults or breakdowns before they occur. This enhances operational efficiency and reduces unplanned downtime. Using AI technologies to identify the cause(s) of train or equipment failures also enables them to quickly assign the appropriate staff with the correct tools to address the issue. 

Jeffrey Sim, Group CEO of SBS Transit, said: “Every day, our people go about their jobs with a clear focus on making every journey a delight for our passengers. This partnership with IBM enables us to be strategic in contributing to this focus. Our combined solution employs AI and Generative AI technologies, which uniquely empowers us to use our data smartly, to drive higher rail reliability and efficiency that will serve our passengers well. We also look forward to extending this solution to rail projects overseas that are under our parent company, ComfortDelGro, and in so doing, further promote Singapore’s world-class public transportation system."

Tan Siew San, General Manager and Technology Leader, IBM Singapore, said: “Currently, there are 4.7 billion commuters globally who rely on the smooth operations delivered by IBM Maximo to shuttle between destinations. Transport operators increasingly need AI and analytics to efficiently monitor, manage and maintain their assets to provide the best passenger experience. In order to enhance this experience and make public transportation more efficient and convenient for commuters, the industry needs to proactively anticipate problems and increase diagnostic accuracy. As Singapore doublesdown on its smart nation initiatives, we are committed to helping more organisations like SBS Transit to build operational efficiencies with trusted and responsible AI to meet their business outcomes.”