How to combine multiple Shared Mobility Use-Cases
Unveiling the critical role of location specific dynamics in shared mobility
Introduction
In the dynamic world of shared mobility, the importance of an effective location management system cannot be overstated. While it may initially seem straightforward, the complexity of this task becomes apparent shortly after operations commence. This blog post explores the critical role of location management in the sustained success of shared mobility operators. It highlights how effective location management enables the creation of diverse use cases, essential for optimizing revenue generation.
The multifaceted challenge of location management
Managing operations across multiple countries with different payment gateways and currencies presents a significant challenge. Each country may encompass multiple cities, each with its own unique locations and requirements. This complexity is often underestimated, leading to inadequate attention from operators. However, setting up a proper location management system from the beginning is crucial. It not only ensures a clean data structure for analysis but also lays the groundwork for future operational and marketing improvements.
Key aspects of effective location management
- Data Insights: Efficient management of location structures enables operators to gain deep business insights. Analysis can be conducted at various levels, from country-wide to specific branches. This granularity allows for continuous optimization based on business and data needs.
- Multimodal Fleets: Recent updates in location management, particularly the inclusion of area management capabilities, have significantly enhanced the functionality of multimodal fleet operations. This development allows for diverse vehicle types, each with unique operational needs, to be efficiently managed within a single location but across different business zones. For instance, specific areas can be designated as low-speed zones, which are crucial for scooters to ensure safety and compliance, whereas such zones might be less relevant for cars. This nuanced approach to area design within a unified location enables operators to cater to the varying requirements of different vehicle types, thus optimizing the use and efficiency of their multimodal fleet.
- Enhanced Safety and Compliance: Different zones for variously regulated vehicle types make it easier to comply with city regulations. For example, low-speed zones can be designated for certain vehicle types, and capacities can be managed to prevent overcrowding. This compliance is aligned with open standards like MDS, ensuring automated synchronization where necessary.
- Area Management: The integration of area management into a comprehensive location management system offers an unprecedented level of detail in data analysis. Operators now have the capability to not only manage but also analyze specific areas within each location. This granular approach enables the creation of areas tailored to distinct operational needs. By doing so, operators gain a significant advantage in understanding the intricate dynamics of each location. This detailed insight is pivotal in adapting to the unique circumstances and challenges of different cities, thereby optimizing performance and outcomes. The ability to dissect data at such a refined level ensures that strategies are not just broadly applied but are precisely aligned with local needs, maximizing efficiency and effectiveness.
- Role & Permission Management: Lastly, the ability to manage roles and permissions at different location levels streamlines team management and enhances operational efficiency.
Use-case: public sharing service combined with a B2B Case
To underline the key aspects, let’s consider a real-life scenario. In Hamburg, public locations are set up without visibility restrictions, allowing any registered user to access and rent vehicles. Concurrently, companies like Yellow, Blue, and Red have ‘hidden’ locations, visible only to authorized users. These users, grouped into business accounts, are assigned to specific locations, allowing operators to allocate dedicated fleets to these companies. Fleet managers from these companies can even receive specific permissions, such as overseeing bookings or managing the fleet, tasks typically handled by the shared mobility operator.
This setup creates synergies between public and B2B services. Employees registered through their company can access vehicles both from the company fleet and the public sharing service. Moreover, within each location, operators can define multiple areas with any desired structure, such as dividing them into districts for granular data analysis. This flexibility empowers operators to tailor their services and gain insightful data at an incredibly detailed level.
Conclusion
Effective location management is a fundamental aspect of shared mobility operations, critical for long-term success. A well-planned setup from the beginning sets a foundational layer for future activities and growth. Experience has shown that neglecting this in the initial stages can lead to increased efforts in restructuring and data quality compromises as the operation scales up, adding vehicles and expanding into new cities.
In operational planning, it’s essential to abstract and strategize your approach to location management based on your specific service model. For instance, if your model focuses on renting vehicles to tourists at hotels, it’s advisable to designate each hotel as a separate location. This approach allows for targeted management and marketing strategies tailored to each hotel’s clientele. Conversely, in a bike-sharing model with docking stations, consider grouping the stations under a single location, with detailed data insights obtained through the subdivision of areas or docks. This methodology enables a more streamlined management of the fleet while still allowing detailed analysis at the docking station level. This are just couple of examples underlining not to neglect a proper location setup that fits to the orginizational requirements.
As we continue to explore shared mobility, understanding and implementing effective location management strategies remains key. Your experiences and strategies in this area are crucial, and we encourage you to share them, contributing to a broader understanding and improvement of shared mobility services.
