- Details
- Category: Industry News
According to a press release from the company, corporations are increasingly asking their fleet providers for a modern and mobile-first way to book rides and simplify transportation management, which spurred the release of Dashride’s new corporate accounts feature. Dashride works with its livery clients to create customized, state-of-the-art mobile apps for company employees and VIPs to easily book rides both for themselves and on behalf of others.
“Corporations, many of which have long-standing relationships with their corporate transportation providers, are no longer satisfied with dated dispatching methods and the limitations associated with having to book rides in advance. They want their providers to give them an on-demand way to book cars, and Dashride’s app solutions gives companies just that,” said Nadav Ullman, CEO of Dashride.
Apps designed by Dashride are customizable to fit the unique needs of the transportation company, and are white-labeled with their branding. The app allows a passenger to view their chauffeur on a map and communicate directly with them. Once the ride is complete, corporations can still use their own preferred billing method—regular invoicing, individual credit cards, or department credit cards.
Although several ridesharing giants have recently released corporate accounts capabilities—Ullman said many are still largely unable to offer proper billing preferences such as direct billed accounts, and cannot accept future bookings, which are necessary requirements for larger companies. In addition, they do not provide the data required by many companies, such as client matter numbers and MIS reporting on ride data. Many companies have also not switched their corporate accounts to the ridesharing giants due to their often unpredictable pricing models, and driver background checks and insurance policies that many consider insufficient.
Along with the mobile technology that is built to meet today’s corporate client needs, the Dashride platform also comes with live vehicle tracking, ride reporting and analytics, easy-to-use driver apps, auto-dispatching, coupon management, multi-state franchising, along with many other tools to meet the needs of the modern corporate traveler.
“The new demand for mobile on-demand corporate booking leaves a huge opportunity for existing fleets to gain market share in the corporate world and lock down existing business relationships for the long term. Giving corporate clients exactly what they want has never been easier with Dashride,” said Ullman.
Visit dashride.com for more information.
[CD0715]
- Details
- Category: Industry News
TNCs were also on the minds of many travel professionals as the corporate world navigates its new options for transportation. Panelists addressed a wide range of travel industry questions with a specific focus on technology.
Allen was able to detail Kings’ corporate travel management, and how it differed from TNCs: “You can reach us anytime, day or night, any day of the year. You’ll talk to someone on the phone who knows and understands what is happening and what needs to be done, whether it’s a simple change or a major issue. This is something TNCs cannot offer.”
Allen also addressed Kings recently upgraded reservation system, which has improved response times for reservations, confirmations, and changes. Bookers and passengers can be automatically updated via email or text message throughout the trip. Dispatchers can track the vehicles in real time to give accurate estimates on arrival and drop-off times. Allen also noted that all of Kings’ chauffeurs have GPS-enabled tablets, which allow for easy changes and updates as well as the ability to provide accurate ETAs.
When the topic of safety was broached, he discussed chauffeur vetting, including annual checks of their driving records, comprehensive background checks, annual and random drug and alcohol testing, and DOT physical, safety, and harassment training—all of which stand in stark contrast to TNCs.
Visit kingsworldwidetrans.com for more information.
[CD0715]
- Details
- Category: Industry News
Despite the protests and presentations from traditional ground transportation operations, airport commissioners unanimously voted to allow the proposal, which, should the airport and city attorney approve it, will go into effect at the end of August.
GCLA President Kevin Illingworth of Classique Worldwide Transportation, GCLA 2nd Vice President Perry Barin of Music Express Worldwide, and NLA board member Ron Stein of Exclusive Sedan Service were among those who spoke on behalf of chauffeured ground transportation at the hearing.
“The public and regulatory interaction with TNCs continues to suffer from misperceptions that affect the safety of the public, the consumer’s rights of the passengers, the fair treatment of TNC drivers, and the fair application of laws for bona fide operators of passenger transportation,” Stein said in his presentation to the LAX board. “The NLA is opposed to treating TNCs as if they are outside of the traditional passenger transportation industry and thus exempt from having to comply with legal and insurance requirements that are designed to protect passengers and the public. I urge you to defer action today.”
Though they implored the board to consider voting down the proposal—as did roughly 50 of the 62 individuals who spoke out against TNCs at the hearing—Stein said that it seemed like the contingency walked into a losing battle.
“They had had a closed-door meeting before the hearing,” Stein said. “It was pretty obvious that it was a foregone conclusion: The first clue was when one board member got up and recused himself right at the beginning. You could see it in their body language.”
In addition to TNCs being granted pick-up privileges, they’ll also have to start paying the $4 pick-up and drop-off fees LAX requires. The proposal also mandates that geofencing will be utilized to determine when TNC vehicles enter and leave the airport property, which will prove that the likes of Uber and Lyft are reporting numbers that match what their apps report.
Stein says that this is “a little bit of a setback” but that GCLA will continue to fight for the state’s operators.
“We still have to fight,” he said. “We have to continue on. At some point in time, the PUC needs to step up and say, ‘Hey, LAX, what are you doing? You’re still part of the state.’”
The association’s next event will be the GCLA Expo and Trade Show on September 24.
Visit
gcla.org for more information.
[CD0715]