CHAPS

What CHAPS does

CHAPS spol. s r.o. is a Czech software company headquartered in Brno that builds and operates the IDOS platform, the dominant timetable search and journey planning system for public transport in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Founded in 1993 and operating as a subsidiary within the ČD - Telematika group (part of the ČD - Informační systémy conglomerate linked to České dráhy), CHAPS aggregates timetable, tariff, and map data for trains, buses, and MHD across more than 100 Czech cities and distributes it through a multi-channel product surface: the IDOS.cz web search engine with real-time connection position display, native Android and iOS mobile apps, Windows desktop software (local and network editions), and the parallel CP.sk platform serving Slovakia. Beyond the consumer search experience, CHAPS maintains a portfolio of B2B modules and add-ons (including CIS JŘ, eShop ČD, In-karta, ARES3, MPV, ISP, PARIS, INISS, and others) sold into the Czech Railways ecosystem and adjacent operators, alongside R&D initiatives in public transport corridor analysis.

The company monetizes through a combination of one-time perpetual desktop software licenses (priced at 245 Kč local and 2,415 Kč network per license, valid for the timetable year), free mobile applications whose economics rely on integrated ticket purchasing for partners such as ZSSK and IDPK, and B2B module licensing to transport operators. Distribution is primarily product-led and direct-to-consumer via chaps.cz, Google Play, the App Store, and self-serve web access. Recent strategic emphasis has been on converting the consumer search platform into a transactional ticketing hub by integrating regional Integrated Transport Systems and the Slovak railway operator, and on layering real-time operational data (live connection positions, delay tracking) on top of the static timetable database. No public API, developer portal, or AI/ML capabilities are documented in available materials, and revenue is not publicly disclosed.

Name

CHAPS

Legal name

CHAPS spol. s r.o.

Website

https://chaps.cz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CHAPS is a Czech software subsidiary within the ČD - Telematika group that operates the IDOS and CP.sk timetable search and ticketing platforms for public transport across the Czech Republic and Slovakia, serving millions of end users and the České dráhy ecosystem through web, mobile, and desktop products.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Transit Information Systems

NAICS

Other Travel Arrangement and Reservation Services (56159), Custom Computer Programming Services (541511)

akta.pro primary industry

Account-Based Ticketing (ABT) Platforms (THAIAMAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Fare Capping, Best-Fare & Account Reconciliation (THAIAMAH)

Keywords

• Passenger transport software
• Timetable search engine
• Route planning software
• Public transit apps
• Railway information systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Brno

HQ country

Czechia

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Software Licenses - IDOS for Windows: One-time perpetual license sales for IDOS timetable software for PC with Windows. Includes local version (single user) and network version (multi-user). License validity tied to timetable validity period (December to December).
2. Mobile Applications: Free mobile applications for Android and iOS providing timetable search and ticket purchasing. Revenue generated through ticket sales integration rather than app sales.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

CHAPS develops and operates the IDOS software platform, a comprehensive timetable search, route planning, and ticket purchasing system covering trains, buses, and municipal public transport (MHD) across the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The platform is delivered through multiple channels: a Windows desktop application (local and network versions), the IDOS.cz and CP.sk web search engines, and native mobile applications for Android and iOS. The company also provides integrated ticket sales for transport operators including České dráhy, ZSSK, and regional integrated transport systems.

Product overview

CHAPS provides a comprehensive suite of software solutions for passenger transport, centered around the IDOS platform as its core product. IDOS is available in multiple delivery formats: Windows desktop applications (local and network versions), web-based search engine (IDOS.cz), and mobile applications for Android and iOS. The company also operates the Slovak CP.sk timetable platform. Additional products include modules for train information systems (CIS JŘ), railway e-commerce (eShop ČD), loyalty programs (In-karta), and various specialized transport management tools (ARES3, MPV, ISP, VVM, UNIPAJ, MOPAJ, MAVIS, CASPRO, ŘVOD). The product portfolio includes research and development initiatives in public transport technology (Veřejná doprava, MyCorridor). The company regularly updates timetable data covering trains across the Czech Republic and Europe, buses, and over 100 Czech municipal public transport systems, while also offering integrated ticket purchasing for various transport operators.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• IDOS: Integrated transport search engine and software platform for timetable information and journey planning, including IDOS.cz web search engine, IDOS for Windows, IDOS for PDA/Smartphone, and IDOS for mobile phones.
• CP.sk

Products and services

• IDOS for Windows Desktop timetable browser application for Windows providing search capabilities across trains (Czech and European), buses (Czech Republic and Slovakia), and MHD for over 100 Czech cities. Distributed as local (single-user) and network (multi-user) editions via perpetual license.
• IDOS.cz Internet Search Engine Web-based timetable search engine accessible via browser at IDOS.cz, providing connection search, real-time connection position tracking on maps, delay information, and integrated ticket purchasing for multiple Czech transport operators.
• IDOS Mobile Applications Native mobile applications for Android (Jízdní řády IDOS) and iOS providing timetable search and ticket purchasing, available free of charge on Google Play and Apple App Store.
• CP.sk Slovak Timetable Platform Slovak timetable search engine (CP.sk) with mobile applications for Android and iOS, enabling connection search and ticket purchasing for ZSSK (Slovak Railway Company) trains.
• eShop ČD Online e-commerce platform for České dráhy (Czech Railways) for ticket purchasing and reservations, integrated with the IDOS timetable and route planning system.
• CIS JŘ (Train Information System) Train information system and timetable management module for Czech railway operators.
• Jízdní řády ČD (Free Timetable Data) Free Czech Railways timetable product distributed by České dráhy with data update support from CHAPS, providing downloadable timetable data files for trains.

Quantifiable outcome

• Timetable data updates multiple times per week covering all transport modes across Czech Republic and Slovakia

Named customers3 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• ČD - TelematikacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCHAPS is a member of the ČD - Telematika group, which is part of the ČD - Informační systémy conglomerate. This provides integration with Czech Railways systems and infrastructure.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Omio: European multi-modal booking platform (formerly GoEuro) covering rail, bus, and air across European markets. Comparable to CHAPS in cross-operator and cross-border ticketing, particularly the ZSSK integration CHAPS is pursuing on CP.sk.
• Moovit: Global multi-modal public transit journey planner app with real-time information and integrated ticketing. Highly comparable to IDOS in core product (transit journey planning) and business model, though operating at global rather than CZ/SK scale.
• Trainline: Europe's leading independent rail and coach ticketing platform. Comparable to CHAPS's IDOS ticketing ambitions in rail-focused multi-carrier booking across European markets.
• Citymapper: Multi-city transit journey planner combining schedules, real-time data, and ticketing across operators. Directly comparable to IDOS for end-user journey planning, mobile-first delivery, and multi-modal coverage.
• Rome2Rio: Multi-modal journey planner and booking aggregator covering trains, buses, ferries, and flights worldwide. Comparable to IDOS for multi-modal connection search and operator aggregation across CEE.

Regional players

• BVG: Berlin public transport operator offering BVG Fahrinfo journey planner and ticket app. Comparable to CHAPS for municipal-and-regional transit journey planning within a single metropolitan system, though focused on Berlin rather than CZ/SK.
• ÖBB: Austrian Federal Railways operating the Scotty journey planner and integrated ticketing. Comparable to CHAPS as a national-rail-affiliated journey planner/ticketing platform in an adjacent Central European market.
• Seznam.cz (Mapy.cz): Czech search engine and map platform (Mapy.cz) with embedded public transit directions for Czech Republic. The most direct local competitor to IDOS within the Czech market, with strong brand recognition among Czech users.

Broad incumbents

• Google Maps: Default mobile maps and transit directions product for billions of users. Overlaps with IDOS on public-transit journey planning but as part of a much broader product portfolio rather than a CZ/SK-focused specialist.
• Deutsche Bahn (DB): German national rail operator with bahn.de journey planner and integrated ticketing. Comparable to CHAPS as an incumbent rail-IT ecosystem with journey planner + ticketing integration; represents a potential model and/or competitive threat for cross-border expansion.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@chaps_cz
• Facebookfacebook.com/chaps.cz
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/chaps-brno
• Instagraminstagram.com/idos_cz

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CHAPS