Proposed Architecture and User Acceptability Framework for TriGo: An Online Tricycle Booking System

Abstract

This study investigates the digital transformation of tricycle transportation in Bolinao, Pangasinan, emphasizing a tricycle dispatch system designed to enhance operational efficiency and community mobility. Bolinao's 30 barangays rely on the traditional "torno" queuing method, managed through physical blackboards at terminals, resulting in prolonged driver idle times, unnecessary travel without passengers, and extended commuter wait times. The lack of centralized trip records limits the Bolinao Tricycle Operators and Drivers Federation (BTODF) in effectively overseeing operations or addressing conflicts. Mobile technology presents a promising avenue for improving coordination. The study designed a digital booking and dispatch system to facilitate online ride requests and operational management. Utilizing a descriptive developmental methodology guided by the Agile Software Development Life Cycle, the project produced a prototype design of the TriGo mobile application tailored to the federation's requirements. Design priorities were informed by 115 purposively sampled respondents, comprising commuters, tricycle drivers, TODA officers, and an IT expert validator, who identified operational needs through observation, interviews, and a needs-assessment questionnaire. The ISO/IEC 25010 standard is proposed as the framework for future evaluation across functional suitability, performance efficiency, usability, reliability, and portability. Core elements include internet connectivity and mobile GPS, connecting commuters and drivers through a three-tier architecture spanning the Presentation, Application, and Data tiers. The proposed design of TriGo features a nearby-driver algorithm, real-time GPS tracking, in-app messaging, incident and operational reporting, SOS alerts, and driver ratings, intended to modernize tricycle operations while maintaining the established TODA community framework. This architecture addresses the operational gaps identified in the manual torno system, offering a scalable, community-responsive alternative without displacing existing organizational structures. Digital transformation is most effective when designed to complement, rather than replace, established governance, positioning TriGo as a viable model for future deployment and evaluation of user acceptability and operational impact in Bolinao.