The mobility of the future will face new challenges driven by a confluence of factors that will usher in complications and necessitate innovative solutions. Consumer needs are the heart of this transformation and will redefine the very concept of mobility.
Will technology be able to provide customers with better experiences and build innovative business ecosystems while being sustainable?
Urbanization and its effects
According to the UN Population Division, in 2050, 67% of people will be living in urban areas, in contrast to 52% in 2010. The mass urban migration is posing the largest threats to the future of cities and causing severe implications, such as housing, infrastructure, pollution, and transport.
In addition, urbanization brings serious problems to the cities such as traffic congestion, public transport crowding, inadequacy of public transport, parking difficulties, environmental impact, etc.
Transformation in the Mobility Industry
The mobility industry is experiencing a significant and profound transformation driven by digitalization and the rise of the sharing economy. In addition, companies and organizations within the mobility sector are evolving into comprehensive mobility service providers.
People have different needs and their lifestyle (increasingly connected) is also changing, and greater attention to environmental sustainability issues is increasing. Indeed, customers aspire to have affordable multiple means of transportation to move easily.
Within this context, addressing smart mobility represents one of the most important challenges in metropolitan areas and it also holds the greatest potential for substantial impact.
This transition presents a significant dilemma for the development of advanced business models, new competencies, and the necessary organizational and technological conversions.
Integrated Mobility: an innovative paradigm to solve modern challenges
What are the current options when it comes to getting to the office?
You can use a ride-sharing company to get from your home to a station, take the train into the city, and hire a bike to get to the office.
Integrated Mobility entails collaboration among mobility service providers to deliver appropriate transportation solutions for each part of a journey. Rather than functioning independently, these providers cooperate within a larger ecosystem, leveraging their individual strengths to enhance the overall experience for passengers.
The objective of Integrated Mobility is to establish smooth transitions between various modes of transportation, potentially even offering a unified ticket for the entire journey. At the same time, authorities and operators should collaborate to build open platforms that provide users with a unified perspective on transportation costs and alternatives, encompassing various choices – public transport, car, bicycle or mini scooter sharing, taxis, and other forms of mobility. Such platforms will empower citizens to make informed decisions considering factors like cost, speed, and environmental impact (such as greenhouse gas emissions). As outlined in the European Green Deal, the result will be a 90% cut in emissions by 2050, delivered by a smart, competitive, safe, accessible, and affordable transport system. The mass market is adapting to electric devices and micro-mobility, to reduce congestion and embrace a more sustainable mobility.
“Digitalisation will become an indispensable driver for the modernisation of the entire system, making it seamless and more efficient. Europe also needs to use digitalisation and automation to further increase the levels of safety, security, reliability, and comfort, thereby maintaining the EU’s leadership in transport equipment manufacturing and services and improving our global competitiveness through efficient and resilient logistics chains.”
Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy – putting European transport on track for the future
Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS): a user‑centric solution for Integrated Mobility
The Mobility-as-a-Service approach is all about users. Building the journey for a passenger to get from A to B becomes a more fluid and integrated experience thanks to the new concept. Transport service providers will no longer exist separated as you see them: ‘train’, ‘bus’ or ‘taxi’. Passengers won’t have to worry about buying different tickets or paying for individual fares anymore. MaaS combines the various transport and related services under one roof, giving the customers one solution for booking and making payments.
