Smart fleet technology supplier Zonar has entered a partnership with ByteCurve, a school transportation technology solutions provider, to offer a cohesive bus scheduling, dispatch, and employee time and attendance platform.

The partnership will also accelerate the pace at which Zonar brings new solutions to the market, according to a news release from the companies.

The ByteCurve 360 platform integrates routing, GPS, and payroll data, enabling Zonar to enhance its existing school transportation technology suite by providing annual and daily schedule management, daily dispatch, and the monitoring of on-time performance at stops and schools, and production of critical timekeeping data for accurate and efficient records and compensation.

Specifically, ByteCurve 360 utilizes Zonar’s core set of solutions — including a real-time integration with a time clock app and Zonar telematics — to provide dispatchers with a dashboard that auto-refreshes throughout the day, with color-coded status alerts for route delays, a simplified process for calculating hours and overtime, and the automatic transmission of hours worked to payroll for processing.

“As driver and passenger safety and operational reliability and efficiency remain our top priorities, we understand the importance and logistical significance of transporting students to and from school,” said H. Kevin Mest, senior vice president for passenger services at Zonar. “Our partnership with ByteCurve better enables us to deliver school districts precise routing and tracking information, while also giving parents peace of mind when it comes to getting their children home safely and on time.”

The ByteCurve 360 technology will streamline Zonar’s digital driver time and task management solution, according to the news release from the companies. All Zonar-enabled driver tablets installed on school buses will provide drivers with remote access to day-of schedules, timesheets, and attendance tracking, as a result of this partnership. Management staff will also be able to use a gatekeeping function that prevents drivers from signing in early or late.

Together, the companies “can proactively manage and monitor complex functions associated with the pupil transportation industry to ensure kids get to school safely, on-time and ready to learn,” said G.P. Singh, CEO of ByteCurve.

As previously reported, Zonar also recently partnered with routing software developer Transfinder to integrate its technologies with Zonar APIs, leveraging its GPS data and EVIR for Transfinder’s Routefinder, Servicefinder, and Wayfinder solutions, aiming to ensure school transportation fleets benefit from more accurate and efficient route optimization, increased fleet safety and ridership visibility, and improved maintenance shop productivity.

The smart fleet technology supplier also teamed up with Navistar, the parent company of IC Bus and International, to allow Navistar customers to use its OnCommand Connection platform to access comprehensive fault and diagnostic data from Zonar Telematics Control Units across an entire fleet with one portal.

Meanwhile, ByteCurve is also collaborating with video and data solutions provider Gatekeeper Systems Inc. to develop Clarity, a new school bus management platform. Clarity will interface with Gatekeeper’s on-board mobile data collectors and video devices on school buses to integrate GPS location, passenger counting, and video analysis for social distancing.