Commuter Shuttle Programs Don't Have To Be Big Fixed Budget Lines

Commuter shuttle programs can come in all shapes and sizes to best suit the needs of the organization using them, but there is also a perception that they come with a relatively hefty price tag.

The provision of a private driver, vehicle, fuel, insurance and technology can all add up and can come as an unpleasant surprise to budget holders who are looking to provide a shuttle service for their teams.

There is always doubt for budget holders:

• Will my employees actually use this?
• Will this work with my shift patterns at my site?
• Can I drag them from home into the office because of this?
• What if the service is only used between Tuesday-Thursday?
• Will I be paying for something that isn't used for 40% of the time?

Typically, procurement teams believe they are stuck with a fixed and relatively expensive budget line without anywhere to turn apart from canceling the contract at the next renewal date.

My honest opinion is that they are looking at it the wrong way. Transportation shouldn’t be a fixed line in a budget each year. It should adapt based on true usage and transportation providers should provide flexibility to ensure a highly efficient program at all times for their clients.

At the core of our offering at Zeelo is flexibility, powered by our technology: Flexibility to scale vehicles up and down quickly based on demand. Flexibility to alter routes to cater for new employee demand. Flexibility to change service times to fit with employees schedules (including downsizing on WFH days!)

Our technology and service modules are built this way for one reason: To ensure our clients are getting a highly efficient program.

From a recent study of Zeelo programs across the UK and US, we have seen average client savings of 40% on their existing bus program, after 12 months.

From a recent study of Zeelo programs across the UK and US, we have seen average client savings of 40% on their existing bus program, after 12 months. This statistic is driven by making smart data driven decisions to ensure the client is always getting an optimized cost per rider, based on true demand.

It's Not Just A Finance Cost. It's A Time Cost.

When we talk to organizations who run an in-house program they all say the same thing: 'We're spending a lot of time managing the backend admin of the program'.

And they're right! From our research, when you break down the time cost required to run an in-house service effectively, it adds up. Especially if it's not your full time job.

Operator vetting, driver compliance, insurance management, rider feedback, real time incidents, promoting the service, building reports, contract management, route design. The list goes on and on.

By integrating our procure and safety modules, we can take this administrative headache away with our team of experts who are supported with technology that speeds up manual tasks, such as driver compliance checks and operator vetting procedures.

On average, we save up to 12 hours of admin time per week for our clients.

On average, we save up to 12 hour of admin timer per week for our clients. That's time for our clients to focus on doing what they do best, knowing their program is being managed safely and securely. Plus they also get the added benefit of transparent performance reports dropping into their inbox each morning.?

No One Likes Empty Shuttle Buses.

It's all well and good optimizing to the point that you have a cost efficient solution, but it's pointless if the rider population represents a small percentage of your overall employee base.

From day one of founding Zeelo, we've had the firm belief that programs have to be designed around the rider, otherwise what's the point?!

We use our in-house proprietary routing software 'RINA' which encompasses a route generation tool powered with census, address and ongoing 'travel intent' data from riders. RINA works constantly on program performance to ensure we're given program access to a wide pool of riders, while keeping costs under control.

We then execute sophisticated marketing campaigns to build awareness and drive utilization up. On average, we increase ridership by as much as 50% in 12 months.

On average, we increase ridership by as much as 50% in 12 months.

In summary: Bus programs don't have to be a static, heavy budget line. They can be dynamic, data driven and above all, extremely cost effective if you choose to work with the right provider.

If you have an existing program, are looking to introduce a shuttle service to get employees back to the office, or need transportation support at your logistics location, we'd be happy to demonstrate how we can provide a tech-enabled program that dramatically improves the employee experience and gives you greater value for money.

Please drop me a message on LinkedIn and thanks for reading,

Barney

Co-Founder & CCO of Zeelo