As a transportation executive, you know that internet connectivity is crucial to the smooth operation of your business. However, when an outage occurs, it can cause chaos and frustration for your customers. This was the case for Canadian National Railway Co (CN) when an internet connectivity failure led to signal issues and long delays and cancellations for Toronto rush-hour commuters. In this blog post, we will provide you with a step-by-step guide on how to handle internet connectivity failure in the transportation industry.

Step 1: Communicate with your customers

The first step in handling an internet connectivity failure is to communicate with your customers. Let them know what is happening and what they can expect. In the case of CN, Ontario regional transit operator Metrolinx temporarily halted its Toronto-area commuter trains and warned travelers to expect further disruptions through the evening. By communicating with your customers, you can help to manage their expectations and reduce frustration.

Step 2: Apologize for the impact

It’s important to apologize for the impact caused by the outage. In CN’s case, the company issued a statement apologizing for the disruption. This shows your customers that you understand the inconvenience they are experiencing and that you are taking responsibility for the situation.

Step 3: Investigate the cause of the outage

Once the outage has been resolved, it’s important to investigate the cause of the outage. This will help you to identify any vulnerabilities in your system and take steps to prevent similar outages from occurring in the future. In CN’s case, the cause of the outage remains under investigation.

Step 4: Offer alternative arrangements

During an outage, it’s important to offer alternative arrangements to your customers. This could include providing shuttle buses or arranging for taxis or ride-share services. In the case of CN, GO Transit urged travelers to seek alternative arrangements but the sudden demand for taxis tripled fares on ride-share service Uber.

Step 5: Consider parametric insurance

Finally, it’s worth considering parametric insurance to protect your business against the financial impact of an outage. Parametric insurance pays out automatically when a pre-defined trigger event occurs, such as an internet connectivity failure. This can help to mitigate the financial impact of an outage and ensure that your business can continue to operate smoothly.

At Riskwolf, we specialize in helping insurers to build and operate parametric insurance at scale. With our unique real-time data and dynamic risk modelling, we can help you to turn real-time data into insurance. If you’re interested in learning more about how parametric insurance can help to protect your business, get in touch with us today.

In conclusion, internet connectivity failure can cause chaos and frustration in the transportation industry. However, by following these five steps, you can help to manage the impact of an outage and ensure that your business can continue to operate smoothly. Remember to communicate with your customers, apologize for the impact, investigate the cause of the outage, offer alternative arrangements, and consider parametric insurance. By taking these steps, you can protect your business and your customers from the financial impact of an outage.

Source: CN Rail says outage that sparked rush-hour travel chaos in Toronto resolved