Twilio > Case Studies > Success in the fast lane: How goUrban uses SMS to deliver on mobility solutions worldwide

Success in the fast lane: How goUrban uses SMS to deliver on mobility solutions worldwide

Technology Category

Functional Applications - Transportation Management Systems (TMS)
Platform as a Service (PaaS) - Application Development Platforms

Applicable Industries

Automotive
Transportation

Applicable Functions

Logistics & Transportation
Quality Assurance

Use Cases

Autonomous Transport Systems
Transportation Simulation

Services

Hardware Design & Engineering Services
Testing & Certification

About The Customer

goUrban's customers range from businesses that use their technology to manage a fleet of vehicles to the individuals who actually ride and drive them. Their growing global customer base includes massive corporations, state municipalities, and individual consumers. They have expanded their roadmap to three different continents and counting. They also have a partner who is using their platform to provide mopeds for gig economy workers who use their mopeds for the day to make their deliveries and then return them. They have also been exploring corporate sharing for companies who want to provide this service internally for the benefit of their own employees.

The Challenge

goUrban, a company that started out renting mopeds to Vienna users, soon realized the third-party software they were using to run their shared mobility business could be created more efficiently in-house. They began developing and testing their own transportation sharing software on their own fleet. However, as they expanded their customer base globally, they faced challenges in scaling their software and ensuring its reliability. They also had to overcome the arduous aspects of rideshare software with seamless, easy-to-use, secure technology. The company found that the slow verification times and finicky software were hindering their growth. They also needed to implement better hardware, remove unnecessary steps for their consumers, and ensure top-notch safety and security.

The Solution

goUrban turned to Twilio for support in improving their platform. They implemented Twilio's Programmable Messaging API to send notifications and alerts to their users. This helped in improving the customer experience by providing instant ease of use and simplicity. For instance, a user could receive a notification reminder that they’ve left their vehicle parked for a long time and it’s still charging the user’s account. goUrban also used SMS to help users sign up and sign in, as well as a means of verification for new users. This helped in avoiding the creation of multiple accounts and ensured security. As goUrban continues to grow its global footprint, they’re also expanding their value to other areas beyond transportation, using Twilio technology to scale their services for both gig economy workers and corporate company sharing.

Operational Impact

The implementation of Twilio's Programmable Messaging API has significantly improved the customer experience for goUrban’s customers. It has made the process of signing up and signing in easier and more secure. The use of SMS alerts has helped create a positive customer experience when it comes to vehicle sharing. The team continues to innovate with messaging to provide a seamless experience for their users. For instance, they have built a new feature called ‘Radars’ where a user can set a radar for his current location for the upcoming hour, and then he gets a notification or SMS when the scooter is available in that area. As goUrban continues to grow, they are also expanding their value to other areas beyond transportation, exploring new avenues like gig economy workers and corporate company sharing.

Quantitative Benefit