The next big thing in micromobility - MaaS
January 31, 2022
min. read
The more help we expect from technologies, the more we should pump it up with data. For example, if we want to know precisely when public transport will be the most crowded or at what time a particular street will have the heaviest traffic, we have to provide algorithms with as much data as possible about people’s movements. If we have enough data sources and information that can be easily shared, then it’s not a problem. Data will help to make our lives easier.
Vehicle sharing and micro-mobility solutions are becoming more popular each year while expanding in more and more cities and countries all over the world. All these platforms and solutions create a certain amount of data. When used properly, it can help to improve everyday life in the city.
MaaS solutions collects data from several service providers
Mobility as a Service (MaaS) providers are a perfect source of data. MaaS solutions integrate various forms of transport services into a single mobility service accessible on demand. These different transport forms include public transport, as well as ride, car, and bike-sharing. In some cases, this might include data about taxis and car rental services.
Source - https://www.trafi.com/jelbi-tender
The idea behind MaaS is that everything is available inside a single application. So there is no need to pay for each service separately. Moreover, there are different payment plans available – a monthly subscription model with a fixed monthly fee or “pay-as-you-go”, where each leg of the booked trip is priced separately.
In 2021 several interesting and significant MaaS partnerships were announced in Europe. One example is the partnership between the public transport company Arriva Nederland (part of Arriva Group, a subsidiary of Deutsche Bahn), and Moovit - the MaaS solutions specialist owned by Intel. This collaboration has made a new nationwide MaaS solution available to employers in the Netherlands with the chance to provide their staff with a mobility budget for their commuting, business, and private journeys. The MaaS app is called Glimble and it is planning to expand in Belgium, as well as in parts of Germany.
Earlier last year, Swiss Federal Railways - public transport operators in Zurich, Basel, and Bern - created a MaaS solution yumuv. It is the first regional MaaS with subscriptions and is powered by Trafi. In less than two months, yumuv was downloaded by almost 1,000 individuals who made nearly 2,000 rides in Zurich alone. Almost 200 subscribers opted for different subscription packages.
https://www.polisnetwork.eu/article/zurich-basel-bern-bring-new-maas-solutions
This graph by the yumuv app shows how much information can be obtained from one source of the MaaS solution. It is possible to follow people’s movement, the most popular routes to get from point A to point B, as well as the choice of the vehicles along the way. So this data is indispensable.
The more the user is willing to share data, the more he gets in return. This case is no exception. With the development of MaaS, users of the solution get more freedom to choose while moving in the city. Basically, the user can decide on its own terms without the need to switch apps or platforms. Various vehicle options and different service providers are available on one unified interface. The choice between the fastest or the cheapest option is behind the user. As everything is integrated into one app (citymapper, Moovit), it is efficient and fast to also include public transport in the trip.
Google Maps and Moovit - on their way to becoming MaaS?
Recently all the biggest players in the micro-mobility market have moved to where most people are looking for commuting solutions. It all started with Bird, Lime, Waybots (Skip), and Spin joining Transit app in April 2018. Afterward, In Europe, CityMapper added the two biggest bike operators Ofo and Mobike in June 2018. Soon after, CityMapper announced several integrations for bike, moped, and scooter operators, such as Jump, Lime (at that time separate), and Nextbike; Spin, and Bird scooters; and Cooltra, Coup, and ZigZag mopeds.
The next big thing that happened was the exclusive partnership between Google Maps and Lime that started at the end of 2018 and lasted 2,5 years. It was the integration for short-distance trips, only eight months after Lime started to provide e-scooter services. The company announced that the app shows scooters and bikes nearby in the “transit” tab, as well as via “walking” and “cycling” tabs. The app displays information about each vehicle - distance, price, and battery range.
Moovit was the first MaaS company to add routes for cyclists and it happened back in 2018. The company started its partnerships with GoTo, Donkey Republic, Mimoto, Mobike and Bird, Circ, Hive, and several others in 2019. Moovit added more partnerships in 2021 - Beryl in February, Beam in May, and Voi, Tier, Spin, and Getaround the following months ending with Lime in July. This latest deal affected 20 countries and 117 cities including the United States, South America, Australia, and Europe.
FreeNow started first with the integration of its own Hive brand (now defunct), as well as VOI, BOND, Emmy, and MILES in 2020. In the first half of 2021, it continued with adding Tier and Cooltra, in 2022 - Zipp Mobility.
With big players constantly joining Google Maps and Moovit, these platforms have become MaaS trip planning solutions. The only difference is that it is not possible to pay for the trip via these services so they are not classical MaaS solutions. However, they offer a huge benefit in the form of an extensive user database, as well as users’ habits to plan their trips via these platforms. More reach means more customers. And another important benefit for micro-mobility service providers using MaaS solutions is cross-promo possibilities.
GBFS data - future of city planning
It is in the interests of many parties involved to make micro-mobility data available, so there are organizations that focus on that. What this means for you as a service provider - you can spend weeks integrating with each app-aggregator such as Google, or you can use the standard approach by GBFS. This offers the opportunity to join any app aggregator (Google, Movit, city apps) in a few days with no coding at all. And it doesn't matter what micro-mobility service you are providing.
What is GBFS? It is a leading global initiative created by NABSA - North America Bikeshare and Scootershare Association. GBFS is General Bikeshare Feed Specification. A team of bike-share system owners and operators, application developers, and technology vendors developed GBFS and it was later adopted by over 600 bike-share and scooter systems worldwide. The latest version was released in April 2021.
GBFS defines a common format to share the real-time status of a shared mobility system. The purpose of data specification is to enable the exchange of information between multiple parties in a manner that ensures that all parties agree on what the information represents. The GBFS format allows mobility data to be used by a range of software applications for trip planning, research, analysis, visualization, and regulation. This publicly available data allows regulators, researchers, and community members to gain insights that have helped municipalities meet their goals.
GBFS includes information about vehicles (bicycles, scooters, moped, and cars), stations, dock locations, and availability. There is also information about vehicle characteristics including their type of power and the distance that can be traveled on the remaining charge. Geofenced areas are also included in this set of information, i.e. data about rules related to speed, parking, and prohibited zones.
So what's in the data available for the city? If we specifically talk about information about cars, it is now possible to quickly convert car trips to electric vehicle trips. Questionnaire data in the US shows that this occurs with approximately 30% of all rides. If this is too specific for you, bear in mind that any insights are potentially going to provide the opportunity to optimize the city’s infrastructure and help to make the city more user-friendly and sustainable. And as we all know, this and any other innovations will most likely help to grow the city’s reputation worldwide.
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How to retain drivers on your ride-hailing platform long term
🚗💬 Why do ride-hail drivers quit – and what makes them stay? We break down insights from the 2025 Gig Driver Report and show how ATOM Mobility helps platforms keep drivers happy with instant payouts, dynamic pricing, and smarter tools.
September 23, 2025
min. read
How to retain drivers on your ride-hailing platform long term
In the ride-hailing business, getting enough drivers online is critical. But keeping them there is what really drives long-term success. Unlike traditional taxi services, ride-hailing drivers are independent contractors. They don’t have fixed shifts, guaranteed income, or long-term contracts. They log on when it suits them, and just as quickly, they can log off – or switch to another app.
That flexibility means you're not only competing for riders. You're also competing for drivers, every single day.
What makes ride-hailing different for drivers
Compared to traditional taxis, the ride-hailing model offers drivers more independence but less security. Taxi drivers usually worked under a dispatcher, used company-owned vehicles, and followed a set schedule. Ride-hailing drivers use their own car, their own time, and often multiple apps.
The benefits are clear: flexibility, lower entry barriers, and instant access to earnings. But the downsides are just as real: unpredictable income, lack of support, and platform instability. For platforms, that means driver loyalty is fragile. Small changes – like delayed payments or fewer rides – can cause drivers to leave.
Why driver retention matters
Most ride-hailing operators focus heavily on passenger growth. But without enough reliable drivers, demand turns into frustration. When wait times grow or no vehicles are available, users abandon the app. This makes driver retention a key metric – not just for operations but also for brand trust and profitability.
It’s more expensive to onboard a new driver than to keep an experienced one. A stable driver base delivers smoother rides, higher ratings, and better service coverage. If your drivers are churning every few weeks, your entire operation becomes reactive.
Inside the 2025 Gig Driver Report
A recent survey by Everee sheds light on what drivers want - and what makes them quit. In May 2025, 419 gig drivers in the U.S. were surveyed. Most of them worked across multiple apps, including Uber, Lyft and Shipt. The full findings are available in the 2025 Gig Driver Report by Everee.
Key findings:
- 68% of drivers work with two or more gig apps every month. Only 32% stick to one.
- 84% say fast access to earnings is important or very important when deciding where to work.
- 70% of drivers want their money within 24 hours.
- 44% would consider quitting if instant payouts became slower or more expensive.
- 21% would leave if onboarding took too long.
These numbers show how sensitive drivers are to delays, unclear policies, and inefficiencies. A small friction point in your system could be enough to push them to a competitor.
Why drivers leave
The survey also highlighted the most common reasons drivers stop working with a platform:
- 59% left after a sudden drop in pay rates or bonuses
- 48% due to fewer available jobs
- 44% when fees or restrictions were added to instant payouts
- 41% because of safety concerns during pickups or drop-offs
- 39% due to rigid scheduling or lack of flexibility
In short, if drivers feel their earnings or control are at risk, they move on. The ride-hailing industry is too competitive for platforms to assume drivers will stay loyal without constant support and improvement.
What platforms can do to retain drivers
To retain drivers long term, platforms need to act on what drivers value most. According to the same report, the top three areas that would increase loyalty are:
- Guaranteed minimum earnings or predictable income
- Better access to instant payouts
- A smoother, faster onboarding process
Additionally, drivers want to feel that their time is respected, their safety is prioritized, and that they are not left guessing about payments or platform changes.
How ATOM Mobility helps you build driver loyalty
With ATOM Mobility’s platform, ride-hailing operators have access to several features designed specifically with drivers in mind.
The “Offer Your Price” feature allows riders to bid slightly more during high demand or bad traffic conditions, giving drivers the chance to earn extra when it matters most.
Dynamic pricing lets operators automatically raise fares during weekends, holidays, or peak hours so that drivers earn more when demand spikes.
One of the most impactful tools is the instant revenue split system, where a driver’s commission is transferred directly to their Stripe Connect account after every successful ride. This eliminates waiting times and builds trust through real-time, transparent payouts.
To make things even smoother, ATOM Mobility offers a dedicated driver app where drivers can track performance, see earnings, and review ride history.
All of this adds up to a professional, transparent experience for drivers - and a stronger incentive to stay on your platform long term.
A dedicated driver app helps drivers track performance, earnings, and ride history. This kind of visibility increases engagement and reduces confusion. Instead of contacting support for payment questions, drivers can see everything directly in the app. The experience feels more professional and structured – which increases the chance they’ll stay longer.
You can explore the dedicated driver app in more detail on driver app overview.
Faster onboarding leads to faster activation
Another key piece of retention is how quickly drivers can get started. Platforms that make onboarding long or confusing lose drivers before the first ride. ATOM Mobility supports streamlined onboarding flows with pre-filled fields, automatic document validation, and built-in guides. In some cases, drivers can be onboarded, verified, and ready to drive within hours – not days.
A better experience creates loyalty
Drivers are not just users of your app – they are ambassadors of your brand. Every interaction they have, from the first sign-up to the latest payout, shapes how they feel about your platform. If it’s smooth, fair, and rewarding, they’re likely to stay. If not, they’ll be gone before the next weekend rush.
By investing in the right tools and understanding what really matters to drivers, platforms can reduce churn, increase satisfaction, and build a loyal driver base. And in a market where supply is everything, that loyalty pays off.
If you're building a ride-hailing operation and want to give your drivers a reason to stay, ATOM Mobility gives you the technology to make it happen. From instant payments to dynamic pricing and a dedicated driver app, everything is designed to keep your fleet active and engaged – for the long haul.
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ATOM Connect 2025: Where Europe’s shared mobility leaders meet
👉 ATOM Connect 2025 is an exclusive shared mobility networking event hosted by ATOM Mobility in collaboration with INVERS. This focused gathering will bring together industry leaders, innovators, and decision-makers from Europe's car-sharing and car-rental sectors to explore the future of shared mobility.
September 16, 2025
min. read
What happens when professionals from Europe’s car sharing and car rental industries gather under one roof? You get a day filled with fresh ideas, insightful discussions, and valuable connections that help shape the future of mobility. That’s what awaits at ATOM Connect 2025 - a dedicated industry event hosted by ATOM Mobility in partnership with INVERS.
This year’s gathering takes place on October 30, 2025, in Riga, Latvia, at the panoramic top floor of the AC Hotel by Marriott. With views stretching across Riga’s historic Art Nouveau district, the setting offers an inspiring backdrop for meaningful conversations about the next steps in shared mobility.
Date & Time: October 30, 2025, from 15:00 onwards
Location: AC Hotel by Marriott, Riga (top floor with panoramic views)
Hosts: ATOM Mobility & INVERS
Format: Expert talks, interactive Q&A, networking sessions, and evening drinks
Topics covered:
- Market insights from INVERS
- Scaling car sharing businesses
- Digital transformation in rentals
- Corporate mobility opportunities
- Eastern Europe’s shared mobility landscape
Why Attend ATOM Connect 2025?
Learn from industry experts
The agenda is designed to address today’s most relevant mobility challenges. Expect data-driven insights from INVERS, practical strategies for scaling car sharing operations, discussions on digital rental solutions and corporate mobility, plus a closer look at the unique opportunities and challenges in Eastern Europe.
The event will also be joined by BYD, one of the world’s fastest-growing electric vehicle makers, who will showcase their innovative, affordable EVs at our event.
Build valuable connections
ATOM Connect 2025 is a focused gathering that brings together operators, rental businesses, and mobility experts from across Europe. With a mix of talks, networking breaks, and an evening reception, the event offers the perfect setting to exchange experiences, discuss challenges, and explore future partnerships.
Join the Conversation
If you’re active in car sharing or rental industry and want to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving market, ATOM Connect 2025 is a must-attend event. Together with INVERS, we’re creating a space where the European shared mobility community can connect, learn, and look toward the future.
👉 Save the date and request your spot today*: https://www.atommobility.com/atom-connect-2025
*Please note: ATOM Connect 2025 is intended for shared car mobility and car rental industry professionals. Registration requests will be reviewed before confirmation.
Driver App demo credentials - Email: test@atom.com, Password: driver
