Executing on Data Intelligence -StreetCrowd 101
The success of free-floating mobility services is built on good intelligence. Yet this is just the start. We explain how Ubiq’s StreetCrowd maximises utilization by moving vehicles from A to B
While much of our intelligence takes place behind the scenes, such as demand forecasting and predictive charging, all of this would be pointless without the tools to execute on it. This is where our StreetCrowd comes in.
Ubiq’s StreetCrowd API matches vehicles requiring repositioning with dedicated service teams or crowd users. As soon as a vehicle is positioned in a low demand area, requires charging or needs to be moved because it is parked illegally, an alert will be sent. Sent to whom you may ask?
Service teams or StreetCrowd community
The StreetCrowd API can be used by dedicated service teams but it can also be used by the crowd community. These are ordinary members of the public, recruited, managed and paid by Ubiq to execute operational tasks. Whether in combination with service teams or as a completely autonomous operational ecosystem, the crowd ensures that vehicles remain in high demand areas.
For mobility upstarts and mature players alike, there is much to gain from effective operational management. Low-cost, flexible operations allow mobility service providers to cost-effectively increase vehicle availability. As we are experts in recruiting workers for StreetCrowd through our own digital channels, being new to a city or lacking a physical presence is no barrier to entry. Currently our StreetCrowd can be live within six weeks in any city in Europe, North America or Latin America.
And there are the community benefits of the StreetCrowd, too. Vehicle movers are also often users of shared mobility services. This results in a positive side-effect: a new set of loyal, paying users. These may be college students or stay-at-home parents looking for an extra income. Some move as little as one vehicle a week in combination with a trip they plan to make anyway, while super-movers shift multiple vehicles per hour. In getting out into different parts of the city and being part of the operational ecosystem, they share the success of services that contribute to making cities less congested and less polluted.
When do we call the StreetCrowd?
The StreetCrowd can be called upon for a number of different fleet related tasks:
Fleet rebalancing - Service teams or community members are matched via the StreetCrowd app to vehicles in low demand areas. They are then directed to high demand areas where the vehicles are more likely to be used.
Predictive charging -
When a vehicle is soon likely to run out of battery, an alert is sent to nearby StreetCrowd users. They then charge the vehicle and once completed, reposition it into a high demand area.
Policy compliance - The majority of users follow the rules, however, occasionally they don’t. To avoid hefty fines, the StreetCrowd is alerted immediately to any illegally parked vehicles. This helps operators to avoid long-term costs, while establishing a harmonious relationship with the city.
In times like these
Since the Covid-19 outbreak we have also set our crowd to work on disinfecting vehicles with our three-step solution, ensuring fleets remain virus-free. And despite changes in user-behaviour and demand patterns, we adapted our algorithms quickly to continue to guide the StreetCrowd in a way that maximizes fleet utilization and availability.
Mobility services require accurate data intelligence to make smart operational decisions. This intelligence, however, is only as effective as its execution. With StreetCrowd we enable operators to master both.
As cities open up again following lockdowns, we are beginning to launch our StreetCrowd in new cities across the world. Stay tuned as we announce next month the launch of our service in one of Europe’s fastest growing cities.
If you are interested finding out more about StreetCrowd, get in touch with us - maximilian.mayer@ubiq.ai