By Robert Wilson
Some may remember the 2004 book Time for a Model Change, an insightful look into the automotive manufacturing industry written by Graeme Maxton and John Wormald.
The book reviewed how the car manufacturing industry had changed since the time of Henry Ford and how it would it would need to change again to align with the modern world.
Interestingly, the title could be used again today to describe the fleet industry as a whole as we move from a fleet management paradigm to one of mobility management. Who would have thought in 2004 that a sharing economy would exist that offers so many alternatives to the way the traditional fleet can be structured?
First came Uber – the ability to arrange a ride using an app and have the charge directly debit your account. Next Uber Rush and the ability to use your finger (or thumb if you were born after 1980) to find a courier to pick up and deliver your parcel. And next Uber Pool, the ability to find someone nearby to share a ride (and cost) to a common location. And it’s not only Uber but plenty of others offering their take on ride share.
But it’s not only ride sharing but asset sharing or car sharing. What about DriveMyCar and CarNextDoor where under-utilised cars owned by individuals (or business) are rented out to someone needing a short term vehicle? So disruptive are these new business models that manufactures are looking to be part of it. Ford has recently partnered with Carhood to provide incentives and benefits to clients of the car-share company who drive Fords.
And of course mobility management is about a multi-modal or in fact a multi-media approach to connecting people and assets in the most efficient and effective way possible. Everything from owned cars, shared cars, public transport, pushbikes and even teleconferences provide alternatives to the traditional company car. The ACT Government recently purchased eight pedal assisted electric bikes for public servants to use to get to meetings in lieu of cars and taxis.
It’s a changing landscape and with increased financial and environmental focus fleet managers are going to be continually challenged to find new and better ways to meet business needs.