III. Reality check

In the second part of this series, I went into detail about why I see sand in the gears of the mobility revolution. But the question automatically remains: is this really the whole story, or don't we need to see the changes in context? Are we perhaps not yet at the finish line, but overlooking many positive developments that have transformed our mobility in recent years?

In this part, starting with a reality check, I would like to discuss the short- and medium-term possibilities to improve our mobility further.

First, a pinch of realism helps us - because, in reality - we did make progress in recent years:

- Our mobility is much more connected than it was 10-15 years ago. Despite the lack of a super app, information about mobility options and offers is available more and faster today than it was ten years ago. The exchange and merging of information via platforms are now the norm rather than the exception. Even in ticketing more and more products are working together. And real-time information is more and more become a given in mobility offerings. Of course, there are still hurdles and limitations, but we are seeing a lot of networking and a will to collaborate, especially locally.

- Automation is advancing, especially in suitable niches: Mobility is being supplemented on a small scale by autonomous delivery robots (without a doubt also with a big boost from the pandemic). Level 4 systems are already working very well in demarcated areas (Cruise, Waywo). Even remote-controlled taxis or trucks have arrived on the streets as an intermediate step to robotaxis (https://www.handelsblatt.com/technik/it-internet/autonomes-fahren-berliner-start-up-faehrt-seit-zwei-jahren-autos-per-fernsteuerung-durch-berlin/27587376.html). Or as Cleo Abram puts it, "Don't wait for the sci-fi version before paying attention" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hr6GPYCHTfA). And the sci-fi version? Various market players are envisaging a regular operation with robotaxis before the end of this decade.

- Sharing has clearly suffered in the pandemic in the consumer sector; who wanted to share the same air with strangers? But it is progressing in the business sector, with many small and medium fleets gradually converting more and more to sharing. The question is when this trend will take hold of business vehicles and thus also status symbols.

- And electrification has long had an effect beyond mobility; the energy industry has been looking for sufficient batteries to store excess electricity in more than pumped storage plants. E-vehicles that charge at night, for example, open entirely new possibilities.

At the same time, the view is gaining ground that our products and services also need to become even better. Better for users, but also better for providers. Mobility products are often complex, in-depth services. Whilst a nimble idea can be implemented quickly, e.g., asset-light, operation allows many pitfalls in deployment planning, interaction with the environment, and customer interaction.?

Succeeding here requires intuitive, human-centric interfaces and processes for customers and service provider staff and organizing the interplay of multiple core technologies to create digital brand experiences. In particular, central data management plays a significant role here, independent of touchpoints for individual customer journeys. Building such platforms requires interdisciplinary teams (Strategy, Design, Development, DevOps, Content, Digital Marketing) and the active and smooth involvement of the service provider's employees. For this reason, the experience of the backend (editor UX) plays just as big a role in the entire design and implementation process as the customer's digital brand experience.

If you face such a challenge, we at Ergosign are helping many of our customers to implement and run such platforms and services (https://www.ergosign.de/en/services/dxp.html). We are happy to help. ?

So, we see a lot of movement, innovation can still be felt in many corners and if we are honest, a lot has already happened for us users as well. It is now much easier for us to switch and combine forms of mobility; sustainable behavior usually has less resistance, and further evolutionary development creates attractive offerings in many niches.?

In this environment, the challenge is to find suitable niches and fill them with innovative and sustainable products and services. For most of the industry, this is currently the focus and it is also the way to achieve success in the short and medium term.

This also includes regularly questioning what mobility in the new world should still be. Often, yesterday's mobility is tomorrow's logistics, or perhaps today's medical products are part of tomorrow's mobility answers: My colleague Jan Groenefeld recently referred me to the topic of exoskeletons (https://www.ergosign.de/en/insights/2020/article-ottobock-part2.html), which can perhaps be an answer to mobility needs in difficult terrain or mountains, like this picture of a exoskeleton for skiers of Roam Robotics shows. As with all innovations, it is important to step out of the usual environment and be inspired by new perspectives.

In this respect, innovation remains possible. But is this the big change we collectively envisioned last decade, the one that would bring the better world? Now we're just tackling details, tweaking, and improving around the edges.

For me, this is not the new mobility we thought of. A mobility, which would change drastically our way of live, which would really create an impact for the necessary change for the sustainable, better future. Is the big vision still achievable and what is the path to get there? That will be the focus of the fourth and final part of my series.

______________________________________________

New mobility - already at the end or still revolution?

I. The promise of the "New Mobility“

II. Sand in the gearbox

III. Reality check?

IV. The new way from A to B - coming soon

______________________________________________