Dynamic and mobile in the 21st century

The trend towards urbanisation continues

In 2020, ten EU member states already had a degree of urbanisation of more than 80 percent according to the World Bank  – including large countries such as France and Spain.  Congested traffic routes and time-consuming commuter routines are the results. The approach of focusing more on micromobility in the future provides cause for hope. A lighthouse project for this is the cooperation of the two Irish companies Anadue and Zeus. Both companies will provide information on this at the Future Mobility Campus Ireland in Shannon (Ireland) as part of Electronomous on 3 November at the Network booth of the Irish business organization Enterprise Ireland.

In 2020, the eScooter provider Zeus and the micromobility startup Anadue started their cooperation with a focus on German cities. The collaboration was supported by Enterprise Ireland, the Irish business organisation, to work together on a strategy to optimise micromobility. The aim was to analyse the data of the scooter fleets in order to gain a competitive advantage over other providers through the use of scooters adapted to the requirements and to promote business relations with the participating cities.

Concentrated expertise from the Emerald Isle

Eco Urban Scooters Ltd, trading as Zeus Scooters, produces the world’s first three-wheeled electric scooter developed for the micro mobility sharing market. The company was founded by Damian Young, a former banker and technology thought leader, at the end of 2019. Zeus operates sharing models in the micromobility segment worldwide. In June 2020, the company opened its first German branch in Heidelberg; Since then, the business has grown to five countries and 30 cities with a fleet of 3,000 e-scooters.

Anadue, also an Irish, is collecting data from micromobility producers and other sources to enable shared micromobility operators and local authorities to work together constructively. Anadue shows the positive impact of the concept on cities: lower greenhouse gas emissions, cleaner air, less congestion and the expansion of transport opportunities to underserved areas and communities. Shared micromobility can help make city centres more vibrant and boost economic activity.

Anadue’s analyses make it possible to optimally position micromobility vehicles to ensure needs-based use. In the course of this, real-time data from connected vehicles is combined with a variety of other data. The software uses machine learning and predictive analytics to gain insights into how best to deliver the services people need. Possible evaluations include forecasts of demand, management of fleets and identification of stranded vehicles. The solution is based on a SaaS model that is deployed in the cloud.

Digital analytics for optimized services

For Zeus, it proved enormously important to have data analytics that could create a competitive advantage – and that’s where Anadue came in. Both companies found a common language through the data that Zeus Anadue makes available for evaluation. “We can now provide cities with differentiated and meaningful reports, while predictive analytics allow them to maximize the potential for driving in each city,” said Mike Manchip, Chief Executive Officer at Anadue.

“It was a challenge for us to understand customer behavior and anticipate usage,” said David O’Reilly, Chief Commercial Officer at Zeus. “Anadue provides the basis for predicting the need for trips, reducing operating costs through machine learning and optimized deployment plans, and providing local authorities with meaningful reports on the benefits of the service.” Anadue’s various software platforms have been integrated into the functionality of the Zeus app and scooter and thus address the central requirements of the provider of shared micromobility services as well as the respective city administration and the users in the places where the solutions are used.