The shared mobility sector in India has seen rapid growth, with rental bike services offering commuters an affordable and convenient alternative to public transport. These services enable users to unlock, ride, and drop off scooters at their convenience through a mobile app. However, managing such a large fleet efficiently requires real-time monitoring, security measures, and seamless payment integration
Challenges
Our client, a leading rental bike provider operating a fleet of 10,000 scooters in an Indian city, faced several operational and security challenges:
- Unauthorized Usage & Theft: The company struggled with unauthorized rides and vehicle theft, leading to financial losses.
- Manual Monitoring & Fleet Tracking: Monitoring the real-time location and status of all vehicles was difficult, affecting operational efficiency.
- Tampering & Misuse: Instances of users tampering with bike engines, overriding locks, or towing vehicles were common.
- Inefficient Trip Management & Billing: Determining trip fares based on distance and time in real-time required an automated system to avoid discrepancies.
- Delayed Response to Issues: City managers needed immediate alerts for any incidents like tampering, towing, or vehicle breakdowns.
Solution: SIMHA Smart Fleet with Telematics & Engine Control
To address these challenges, SIMHA Smart Fleet devices were installed on all 10,000 rental scooters, integrating advanced telematics and remote engine control functionalities. Key features included:
- App-Based Unlocking & Engine Control: A relay-based engine control system allowed customers to unlock and start the scooter only after making a booking via the app.
- Automated Fare Calculation: Distance and time traveled were recorded using SIMHA’s cloud telematics system, ensuring seamless and accurate fare calculation.
- Real-Time Fleet Tracking & Insights: The system provided live tracking of all scooters, enabling the fleet owner to monitor trips, identify idle vehicles, and optimize usage.
- Security Alerts & Incident Notifications: Instant SMS/email alerts were sent to city managers in case of tampering, unauthorized towing, or other security breaches.
- Scalable Data Integration: SIMHA’s cloud seamlessly integrated with the rental service app via SDKs, ensuring a smooth user experience without additional operational complexities.
Key Benefits
The implementation of SIMHA Smart Fleet significantly enhanced the efficiency and security of the rental bike service, delivering measurable benefits:
- Enhanced Fleet Security: Unauthorized access, tampering, and theft incidents were significantly reduced due to remote engine control.
- Optimized Utilization: Real-time tracking helped ensure better vehicle availability and reduce idle time.
- Automated & Accurate Billing: Automated trip fare calculation eliminated manual errors and disputes, improving customer satisfaction.
- Faster Incident Resolution: Instant alerts to city managers ensured timely action on towing, tampering, and breakdowns.
- Scalable & Future-Ready System: The cloud-based telematics solution enabled easy expansion to other cities without infrastructure overhauls.
