What is Mobility-as-a-Service and why MaaS matters for your mobility business?
May 17, 2024
min. read
What is Mobility-as-a-Service and why MaaS matters for your mobility business?
MaaS is short for Mobility-as-a-Servive, and simply put, it combines various mobility options into a single unified mobility app for a city or region.
Today, we have more options for getting from point A to point B than ever before. Vehicle-sharing, ride-hailing, and all sorts of rental services for all types of transports have grown deeply ingrained in our day-to-day lives, fundamentally changing how we choose to move and commute through cities.
But, as we all know, quantity doesn't necessarily equal quality. Just because there are many more options for transportation, doesn't mean that they're the most effective for getting where you want to go:
- Crossing an entire city on a scooter will quickly become costly and exhausting.
- Renting a car may still have you stuck in traffic.
- Commuting with a rental moped may be less environmentally friendly than potential alternatives, e.g. public transportation.
- Managing half-a-dozen applications to find the best deals also gets tiresome.
That's where MaaS comes in.
In what follows, we'll take a closer look at what is Mobility-as-a-Service, explore some examples of MaaS implementations, and how MaaS may impact your own mobility business.
Mobility-as-a-Service definition
MaaS solutions integrate various forms of transport services into a single multimodal mobility service accessible on demand. These different transport forms include public transport, as well as ride, car-sharing, and bike-sharing, and others.
Multimodal simply means that users can combine various types of mobility when planning their journeys, e.g. taking a bus for the first leg of the trip and then hopping on a scooter for the last mile.
MaaS has been the talk of the mobility industry for years now and the Mobility-as-a-Service market size is projected to grow explosively over the coming years, especially in the Asia Pacific region.
What are the benefits of Mobility-as-a-Service?
Multimodality is one of the main ones for end-users. Others include a single payment system and general ease-of-use made possible by having multiple mobility services under one roof.
Typically, there are different payment plans available – a monthly subscription model with a fixed monthly fee or “pay-as-you-go” model, where each booked trip is priced separately.
But MaaS is not JUST a mobility service aggregator for city dwellers.
The primary client of a MaaS solution is the municipality. A MaaS solution is first and foremost intended as a way for a city to modernize and gain control over its mobility networks and data.
MaaS lets the local government offer a convenient mobility solution, while equipping the city with insight on transit data, movement flows, and mobility preferences. It also empowers the city to nudge desirable traveler behavior, i.e. promote certain modes of mobility.
For example, the city might subsidize discounts for an integrated bike rental solution during the summer to encourage people to choose cycling over other types of transportation.
MaaS brings together both public and private players – MaaS platform developers, mobility service providers, public transport authorities, and others – and project ownership typically lies with a public institution, hence it may be inaccurate to speak of a general Mobility-as-a-Service business model.
While individual mobility providers may profit from integration as it allows them to reach a broader audience, the MaaS project as a whole will usually operate at a loss. After all, at its core lies public transportation and its core purpose is to improve quality of urban life, not make profit.
Still, MaaS comes in all shapes and sizes, so what are the models of Mobility-as-a-Service? Let's explore this through some examples.
Mobility-as-a-Service examples
One textbook example of a MaaS solution is Berlin's Jelbi. Created by Trafi and Berlin's public transport authority BVG, it brings together every kind of public and shared mobility – ready to be booked in a moment’s notice right from the app.
With Jelbi, Berliners can easily plan multimodal journeys, buy public transport tickets, and pay for services with all the most popular payment methods. With public transport as the backbone, Berlin has built mobility hubs – physical stations across the city, where people can switch from public transport to shared mobility – to facilitate convenient multimodal transport and encourage people to leave their cars at home.
Trafi was also behind yumuv in Switzerland, which was one of the first that trialed a regional MaaS solution with subscriptions connecting the three cities of Zurich, Bern, and Basel. Though it was only a research project, its ambitious scope spells the potential future of MaaS – a country-wide mobility solution accessible from a single app.
In fact, such a solution has already seen the light of day – glimble. Created by another major player in the MaaS development scene, Moovit, glimble enables easy travel within the Netherlands, offering most of the same benefits as Jelbi, but on a national scale.
A MaaS solution done differently
Technically, if we look at MaaS as a unified multimodal mobility app, then Google Maps also qualifies as a MaaS solution, though it stands out for its global scope and not being tied to any particular city.
Google has proactively partnered with micro mobility partners in various regions, has integrated public transport timetables, and done more to offer a convenient route planning solution. However, the lack of payment integrations and minimal adaptation to local markets makes Google Maps more of a map application with some MaaS capabilities, rather than a full fledged MaaS solution. By the way, are you aware that ATOM Mobility customers can easily showcase their vehicles on Google Maps for free?
Why does MaaS matter to your shared mobility business?
If you're a micro mobility service provider and your city is mulling over launching a MaaS solution, it may be wise to get your foot in the door. Having your service integrated within the city mobility app confers various benefits.
For one, it enables you to reach more people. Being on the city's MaaS app will expose your service to commuters that might otherwise elect to choose other modes of transportation. It also helps overcome a critical adoption barrier – people will be able to conveniently use and pay for your solution, without having to download and sign-up on your individual app.
Secondly and continuing the previous point, it's potentially free advertising. Cities are invested in maximizing their MaaS solution's adoption and spend significant resources in popularizing it. As a result, partnering service providers can piggyback on the marketing efforts of the public transport authority.
Thirdly, it embeds your business with an additional layer of legitimacy. Namely, your solution being chosen by the city gives it an air of “official”ness, especially if your competitors aren't on it. Once again, this may help attract more users.
MaaS – an evolution in urban mobility
MaaS lets cities and their citizens take control over a rapidly evolving mobility landscape. With so many different types of transportation and dozens of companies competing over customers, it can all get a bit hectic.
At the end of the day, finding the best way – be it quickest, cheapest, or environmentally friendliest – is in the interests of both cities and travelers and that's exactly what MaaS tries to offer.
Whether MaaS will become a standard across cities is yet to be seen, as MaaS companies, much like other large-scale mobility businesses, continue to struggle to reach profitability with Finnish startup MaaS Global recently filing for bankruptcy. Still, the technology behind it was snatched up soonafter by Dutch MaaS company umob, signalling faith in the MaaS project at large.
So, if you're a mobility service provider, MaaS is something that you shouldn't ignore.
Interested in launching your own mobility platform?
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How to find your niche in the competitive ride-hail market: real-world examples of businesses that resonate
💡Want to break into the ride-hail market but don know what’s your angle and how to make yourself visible in an already packed field? Check out how InDrive, BLACWOLF, and COMIN found their unique angles to thrive in a competitive space! 🚗
December 18, 2024
min. read
The ride-hail market is crowded, fiercely competitive, and often dominated by household names like Uber and Bolt. But don’t let the giants fool you into thinking there’s no place for you. With some creative thinking and a unique angle, you can get on the road quite quickly. The secret? Finding the one thing that sets you apart from others. Let’s explore how some notable players (both veterans and newcomers) have done just that.
InDrive: A pioneer in price negotiation
🔹 Over 200M downloads, active in 700+ cities across 45+ countries
🔹 Unique feature: Set your price - Riders offer a fare, and drivers can accept or negotiate!
🔹 Drivers pay no commission, just a small monthly subscription, giving them better earnings.
🔹 Unique market entry: Initially free usage for drivers (no commission, no subscription).
Before we discuss the latest players, let’s revisit InDrive, a company that entered the market years ago with an approach that sounds almost too simple to work – offer your price.
The idea is straightforward. Instead of accepting a fixed fare, riders suggest how much they’re willing to pay. Drivers, in turn, can accept, counter, or reject the offer. It’s a dynamic that mirrors haggling at a bazaar but digitized for the modern commuter.
This model resonated. Riders felt empowered, and drivers appreciated the flexibility, especially in sensitive markets where fair pricing is a concern. InDrive rapidly scaled across emerging markets like Latin America, Russia, and Southeast Asia, regions where affordability and negotiation are cultural norms.
The takeaway here? InDrive’s “offer your price” model wasn’t just a fun gimmick, but a solution tailored to specific markets and demographics, offering fair rides to anyone who needs it. If you’re entering the ride-hail space, ask yourself: what unique cultural or social nuance can you leverage to disrupt the market in the region?
BLACWOLF: The armed and ready approach
🔹 Unique feature: Focus on rider security with armed & trained drivers 🛡️
🔹 Launched in Atlanta (2023), now expanding across Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, and soon Houston, Austin, and Dallas!
🔹 Over 300K downloads in just 1.5 years.
Now, let’s fast-forward to the present and head to the U.S., where BLACWOLF has entered the scene (launched in Atlanta, 2023), now expanding across Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, and soon Houston, Austin, and Dallaswith an eyebrow-raising twist: drivers who carry firearms.
BLACWOLF was launched in response to concerns over driver and passenger safety. Their USP (unique selling proposition) is ensuring peace of mind through armed drivers. As their slogan says, “We didn't reinvent ride-hailing; we just made it safer.”
As controversial as it sounds, it’s resonating in specific markets like Houston, where personal security is a priority for many.
This approach has gained traction, especially among passengers who prioritize safety or feel underserved by existing ride-hail platforms. Of course, it’s not without its challenges. Regulatory hurdles and liability concerns spring to mind; however, BLACWOLF is scaling rapidly, proving that a polarizing angle can still be a winning one.
Don’t shy away from bold ideas that cater to real pain points. Whether it’s safety, convenience, or cost, identifying an underserved need can help you stand out in a crowded market.
COMIN: France’s bid-for-ride disruptor
🔹 Unique features: Offering a fair 10% commission and Set your price feature (similar to inDrive).
🔹 Quickly onboarded 6,000 drivers, capturing 15% of the market in record time.
Over in Europe, a fresh player called COMIN is shaking things up in France. This newcomer has onboarded 6,000 drivers, taking 15% of the French market almost overnight, a feat that’s turning heads across the industry.
COMIN’s secret sauce? A bidding system that allows passengers to submit offers for rides, giving drivers the choice to accept or negotiate. Yes, it’s like InDrive, but with a hyper-local twist tailored to France’s market dynamics.
To fuel their growth, they’ve also raised €300,000 in seed funding from Station F, Europe’s largest startup incubator. By focusing on one market and perfecting their model, COMIN has avoided doing too much at once—proof that a focused approach often trumps trying to be everything to everyone.
For aspiring ride-hail entrepreneurs, COMIN serves as a case study in starting small but thinking big. Specializing in one region or demographic before expanding can help you gain traction and refine your offering.
The ride-hail market may look like a fortress, but even the strongest walls have cracks. With creativity, boldness, and the right platform to support your vision, there’s no reason you can’t break through and thrive. Are you ready?
How ATOM Mobility can help
So, you’ve got your groundbreaking idea. What’s next? To turn your vision into a reality, you’ll need a robust platform to build on—and that’s where ATOM Mobility comes in.
ATOM provides a ready-made platform for entrepreneurs looking to launch ride-hailing or mobility services. With customizable tools, seamless integrations, and scalable tech, ATOM lets you focus on your unique value proposition while we handle the backend.
Ready to make your mark in the ride-hail world? Join ATOM Mobility today and start your journey!
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Cracking the code of car sharing: Best technology for car sharing business
🚘💡 What keeps cars in car-sharing businesses connected? From CAN bus and OBD devices to cutting-edge IoT providers like Teltonika, Invers and Geotab, it’s all about the hardware!
November 27, 2024
min. read
Car sharing is more than just a trend—it’s a game-changer for urban mobility, helping people access vehicles without the headache of owning them. But what makes it all work? Let us introduce the tech behind car sharing and explore how companies like ATOM Mobility make it easier to start and scale your shared mobility business profitably.
The three pillars of car sharing technology
At the heart of every car-sharing operation are three key technologies that connect vehicles to platforms: CAN bus, OBD, and OEM telematics. Here’s what they do and why they matter:
1. CAN Bus: The car’s internal network
The Controller Area Network (CAN) bus acts like a car’s central nervous system, allowing different components to talk to each other. It delivers detailed data—fuel levels, battery status, or even tire pressure—directly to your car-sharing platform. This deep integration also allows remote actions like locking or starting the vehicle.
However, CAN systems require professional installation, which can mean higher upfront costs. For larger operators with fleets that need granular control and detailed diagnostics, it’s a must-have.
2. OBD: Affordable and easy to deploy
On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) devices are the plug-and-play heroes of car sharing. Simply connect them to the car’s diagnostic port, and you’ve got instant access to location, speed, and engine health. They’re affordable, quick to set up, and ideal for small-to-medium operators just getting started.
That said, OBD devices offer less functionality compared to CAN. They’re perfect for a more basic setup but might not suit operators who need advanced data or remote vehicle controls.
3. OEM Telematics: Factory-installed genius
OEM telematics systems come pre-installed in many modern cars. These systems provide seamless connectivity and are highly reliable, enabling features like real-time tracking, diagnostics, and remote locking.
The downside? OEM telematics tie you to the car manufacturer’s system, which can limit customization. If your fleet is from a single brand, this is a fantastic option. For mixed-brand fleets, integrating other devices might make more sense.
The IoT providers helping you succeed
Beyond these three core technologies, IoT providers offer additional tools to supercharge your car-sharing operations. Here are four standout names making waves in the industry:
Teltonika
WEB: https://teltonika-gps.com
Headquartered in Lithuania, Teltonika has been at the forefront of IoT since 1998. With over 1,600 employees, the company specializes in GPS trackers and other connected devices that bring real-time tracking, security, and driver behavior analysis to your fleet. Their scalable solutions are ideal for growing car-sharing businesses.
Geotab
WEB: https://www.geotab.com
Based in Canada, Geotab supports over 2 million vehicles worldwide with its advanced fleet management tools. Their telematics devices don’t just track vehicles—they provide insights into fuel efficiency, maintenance needs, and safety. For operators focused on data-driven optimization, Geotab is a top choice.
INVERS
WEB: https://invers.com/en/solutions/cloudboxx
Germany’s INVERS is a leader in shared mobility tech, offering the CloudBoxx device to connect vehicles with car-sharing platforms. Easy to integrate and reliable, CloudBoxx ensures a smooth experience for operators and users alike. With a strong presence in Europe and North America, INVERS is a trusted name in the industry.
Acacus
WEB: https://www.acacusgroup.com
Operating out of the UAE, Acacus combines IoT and AI to deliver smart mobility solutions. Their tech is widely used in government projects and private fleets, especially in regions embracing smart cities. Acacus brings innovation and reliability to shared mobility operators aiming for cutting-edge solutions.
How ATOM Mobility comes into the picture?
Technology is only as good as the platform that connects it all. That’s where ATOM Mobility shines.
ATOM’s software integrates seamlessly with devices from Teltonika, Geotab, INVERS, and others, making it simple to connect your fleet and manage everything from a single dashboard. No matter the size of your operation, ATOM provides tools for real-time tracking, user management, and secure payments—all with intuitive design and full support.
Whether you’re launching your first car-sharing fleet or expanding across multiple cities, ATOM helps you scale profitably and with confidence. We make the technical stuff easy so you can focus on growing your business.
Why is car sharing the future?
Urban living is changing. People are moving away from car ownership, opting instead for flexible, on-demand solutions like car sharing. It’s convenient, cost-effective, and kinder to the planet.
With tech like CAN, OBD, OEM telematics, and IoT devices driving the industry forward, the potential for shared mobility is enormous. But to succeed, operators need the right tools to manage fleets, optimize performance, and deliver a great user experience.
Join us
Ready to start your car-sharing journey? Book a demo with ATOM Mobility and let’s get moving!
Driver App demo credentials - Email: test@atom.com, Password: driver
