More evidence that bus networks are becoming one of the new battlegrounds for digital distribution, with Busbud launching white label services.
The Canada-based company will allow third parties to use its new Bus Booking API so they can integrate search and ticketing for bus fares into their websites.
More than ten Canadian and international travel brands have integrated the service into their websites in recent weeks, including eDreams Odigeo-owned Liligo which stated its intention last month to move into the multi-modal search arena.
Before the expansion into B2B services, Busbud says it has seen a 600% year-on-year growth in ticket sales from the consumer-facing platform.
Busbud currently has 500,000 bus routes from 63 countries available on the platform.
The company raised two tranches of investment in recent years, with CAN$1 million coming via Real Ventures and featuring ex-Expedia board member Peter Kern in May 2013, plus a further $9 million Series A from OMERS Ventures and Revolution Ventures just over a year later.
To help with the growth strategy, Busbud has recruited a former-Expedia exec to become its new chief operating officer.
Sean Shannon led the expansion of Expedia into Latin America and oversaw operations in Australia and New Zealand. He also assisted the setting up of Expedia in Canada in the early-2000s.
He left Expedia in September 2015.