Insights and news from the ATOM Mobility team

White label vs franchising: Which model is right for your mobility business?

Starting a new mobility business comes with many decisions, but one of the most important is choosing the right model for growth. Whether you're thinking about launching an electric scooter fleet, a ride-hailing app, or car sharing in your city, there are two main paths to consider: joining a franchise or building your own brand using a white label solution.

Both models offer clear benefits – and both have downsides. What works best depends on your goals, experience, and long-term vision.

What is franchising in mobility?

Franchising means joining an existing brand and operating under their name, systems, and technology. For example, a local taxi fleet might become a Bolt ride-hailing partner, gaining access to Bolt's technology, user base, and reputation. Similarly, in the micromobility space, some brands allow local entrepreneurs to launch electric scooter or bike-sharing services as franchisees.

This model is popular because it can significantly reduce the time and effort needed to launch. Instead of developing your own technology, brand, marketing strategy, and operational systems, you get a package, a “ready to use” business, from a brand that already knows the ropes.

Franchising: Pros and cons

The main advantage of franchising is speed and simplicity. You don’t need to build everything from scratch. You operate under a recognized name, which can make marketing easier. Often, you also get operational support and a clear playbook to follow.

But there are also downsides. As a franchisee, you don’t fully control the brand, customers and the technology. You may have limited flexibility to experiment or adapt the service to your local needs. Franchise fees or revenue sharing models can also reduce your profit margin. And if the brand suffers reputational issues elsewhere, it can impact your local business – even if you’re doing everything right.

Real-world examples of successful micromobility franchises:

LEVY, an US-based electric scooter-sharing company, has successfully expanded through a franchise model by partnering with local operators across USA. Entrepreneurs can launch and operate Levy-branded services in their cities, leveraging LEVY’s tested software, hardware, and operational know-how. This model has helped LEVY scale quickly while maintaining a consistent brand and service quality.

Nextbike, based in Germany, is one of the world’s leading public bike-sharing providers. It works with cities and franchise-like partners to operate local services under the Nextbike brand. These partners handle operations on the ground, such as maintenance and customer service, while benefiting from Nextbike’s established platform, brand, and international experience. With a presence in over 300 cities, it’s a clear example of how a micromobility business can scale through distributed partnerships.

What is white label in mobility?

A white label solution allows you to launch your own mobility platform – under your own brand – using someone else's ready-made technology. This means you can create a ride-hailing app, car-sharing service, or scooter fleet that looks and feels 100% yours, but without needing to build the software from scratch.

If you’re not familiar with how white label works, here’s a good explanation.

With white label, you take ownership of your brand and operations, while leveraging reliable, tested software that’s been used in dozens of markets. You’re not just a local operator – you’re the brand owner.

White label: Pros and cons

The biggest benefit of a white label approach is independence. You control the brand, the marketing, pricing, partnerships, everything. You can build a unique business that reflects your vision and local market needs. There’s no revenue sharing or ongoing franchise fees.

However, white label also means more responsibility. You have to manage marketing, customer support, local partnerships, and operations yourself. While the software is provided, the business is yours to run. It requires more involvement but also brings more potential reward.

3 reasons to choose your own white label platform

Complete control over everything: Unlike a franchise, where key decisions are made by its owner, you’re in charge of everything - from choosing the name, branding to allocating budgets and setting up a supply chain.
Flexible operations: There’s no universal solution that works equally well for all entrepreneurs. By starting your own project, you can better adapt to the local market needs, customer requests, and even changes in legislation. To launch a new app feature or adjust pricing, you won’t have to go through layers of approvals - you are the only decision-maker.
Faster growth opportunities: For example, by attracting investments, launching crowdfunding, increasing your fleet, making additional investments in advertising, or even launching your own franchise.

Choosing the right model for your mobility business

If you want a fast, low-risk way to enter the market with support and clear systems, franchising may be a good fit – especially if you’re new to mobility or want to test the waters.

If you want to build a long-term business under your own brand, with full control and higher potential margins, white label is likely the better option. It gives you room to grow and adapt without being tied to someone else’s rules.

Many successful businesses start with white label software to speed up their launch, then focus on building a strong local brand and user base. Over time, this approach can offer more strategic freedom and better returns.

You can even build your own franchise using ATOM white label

One advantage of choosing a white label provider like ATOM Mobility is that you’re not just building for yourself. With ATOM’s platform, you can also expand by inviting partners to operate under your brand in other cities or regions.

This means that you can launch as an independent operator and, over time, create your own franchise-style network. ATOM’s software allows you to add partners to your platform, assign them specific territories, limit access to data, and manage operations from one central system. Your partners operate under your brand – and you stay in control of the bigger picture.

This is exactly how several of our clients have grown. They started locally, proved the model, then expanded by partnering with others – all without giving up their brand or independence.

Both franchising and white label are valid ways to launch a mobility business, and both come with clear advantages. But if your goal is long-term brand ownership, flexibility, and the ability to scale on your own terms, white label is often the smarter path.

With ATOM Mobility’s platform, you can launch fast, operate efficiently, and even build your own network of partners under your brand – creating a franchise model that works for you.

Fleet management with ATOM Mobility: The future of task automation

🔧 🚗 Simplify fleet management with automation! ATOM Mobility’s latest Task Automation feature creates maintenance tasks automatically, so you can focus on growth instead of scheduling. From mileage-based services to feedback-triggered check-ups, this tool has your fleet covered.

November 11, 2024

‍Automating fleet management with ATOM Mobility: The future of task automation

Managing a fleet comes with many moving parts—from ensuring vehicles are serviced regularly to addressing feedback and operational needs. ATOM Mobility’s new Task Automation feature optimizes this process by automatically creating tasks based on each vehicle’s real-time parameters, such as mileage, time, user feedback, and ride count. This allows fleet operators to focus on strategic growth while routine maintenance and issue resolution become automated. Here’s how this feature could make fleet operations smoother, efficient, and more scalable for shared mobility and rental businesses.

Task automation for fleet management

ATOM Mobility’s Task Automation feature builds on its ongoing focus to simplify fleet management. This new addition enables operators to automate task creation based on specific vehicle metrics, reducing manual effort and enhancing overall fleet efficiency.

The idea is brilliantly simple: instead of creating tasks manually (which can be tedious and time-consuming), this tool will automatically create tasks for you based on pre-set conditions.

With Task Automation, you can set specific parameters that will trigger task creation, such as mileage, ride count, ratings, or time. Picture this: every 5,000 kilometers driven, the system can automatically create a “Tire Check” task. Or if a specific vehicle receives user ratings below two stars, a “Low user review, check up required” task can be triggered. This approach to task generation not only saves valuable time but also ensures that vehicles receive consistent care based on real usage and performance, not guessing.

How task automation works in a nutshell

Setting up Task Automation in ATOM Mobility’s dashboard is designed to be as seamless as possible. The process essentially boils down to three simple steps:

Log in to the ATOM Mobility platform, and head to the Fleet Maintenance section under “More.”
Create a new automation: Specify the task type (like check-ups or cleaning ro anything else), set priority (low, medium, high), choose the relevant vehicle model, and add an optional description.
Set a trigger parameter and value: Choose the metric that will trigger the task, whether it’s mileage, ride count, user feedback, or time schedule.

Once everything’s set, the system will keep track of these parameters for each vehicle, ensuring that when a trigger is met, a task will be created automatically and added to the dashboard. You’ll have everything you need to keep each vehicle in tip-top shape without manual oversight.

Why task automation is a game-changer for shared mobility operators

It’s no secret that keeping up with fleet maintenance can be a full-time job—and then some. Task Automation is built to give you time back in your day and enhance fleet health without excessive manual work. Here’s how it shines:

Minimizing downtime and maximizing efficiency: With automated tasks created on schedule, you’re reducing the chance of missing maintenance, which can lead to unexpected breakdowns or, worse, unsatisfied customers.
Boosting customer experience: Users expect seamless, safe, and reliable rides. By setting automated checks based on feedback ratings, you can address any hiccups before they escalate, like a regular check-up triggered when user ratings dip, ensuring issues are handled swiftly.
Optimizing resource allocation: Operators save time, money, and stress by allowing ATOM’s platform to handle task creation. Staff can then focus on actual maintenance rather than constant monitoring and task creation, ultimately lowering operational costs.

Examples of task automation in action

To illustrate how powerful Task Automation can be, here are some scenarios where it could make a real difference for fleet operators:

Mileage-based maintenance: Automatically set oil changes or tire rotations every 5,000 kilometers. No more sticky notes or vague reminders—once the mileage threshold is hit, the task is created instantly, saving time and maintaining vehicle health.
Feedback-based follow-ups: Let’s say you have a popular scooter, but a few users have noted a squeaky brake. Once the feedback drops below a specific rating, an automatic check-up task is created. That way, you don’t have to wait for a cascade of bad reviews before you act.
Time-based cleanings: Hygiene is crucial, especially in shared mobility. You could set a task to clean and sanitize vehicles after a set number of hours or rides, ensuring each user gets a fresh experience without needing someone to track hours.

Task automation meets scalability: ideal for growing fleets

For any business with a growing fleet, Task Automation provides a clear advantage. By using parameters to generate tasks, you can scale up without needing additional manpower just to manage scheduling. As your fleet grows, Task Automation scales with you, handling more vehicles and keeping you updated on the health and performance of each.

Think of it as a maintenance manager that grows alongside your fleet without increasing your operational costs. It’s no longer about manually checking every vehicle at every mile marker; it’s about letting the system manage maintenance alerts while you keep your attention on strategic growth.

Getting started with task automation on ATOM Mobility

Setting up Task Automation is straightforward, but don’t hesitate to ask ATOM Mobility’s team for more detailed guidance. Here’s a quick overview to get you started:

Select your trigger: Choose between kilometers, hours, ride count, or ratings, based on what matters most to your fleet.
Define your task requirements: Each task is customizable, so you can specify different needs depending on the type of vehicle or its usage.
Monitor with ease: Once in place, the automation will handle task creation. Just check in via the dashboard to monitor progress and handle any high-priority issues as needed. All the information and tasks are synced between the dashboard and fleet manager app.

ATOM Mobility’s commitment to innovation means we’re constantly updating our features to make fleet management more efficient and automated. Task Automation isn’t just a convenience—it’s an opportunity to elevate how you manage and grow your fleet in a sustainable way. With automation taking care of repetitive tasks, your team can focus on what really matters: delivering an outstanding experience to every rider.

Why now’s the time to automate with ATOM Mobility

The shared mobility industry is moving faster than ever, and staying competitive means embracing tools that make operations smoother and more efficient. ATOM Mobility’s Task Automation feature is a game-changer that brings automation to the forefront, allowing operators to focus on high-impact work while leaving routine tasks to the platform.

Whether you manage a fleet of e-bikes, scooters, or vehicles, automated maintenance can streamline your operations, prevent issues before they arise, and let your team work smarter, not harder.

Explore more about ATOM Mobility’s fleet management solutions on their blog and discover other products that can help you on your way to creating a micromobility fleet!

Explore the future of mobility: must-attend events in Q4 2024

🚀 Ready to explore the future of travel and mobility? Here are the top 2024 (Q4) events for business owners and those looking to enter the mobility space! Don’t miss these opportunities to connect, learn, and meet ATOM Mobility team💡

October 14, 2024

ATOM Mobility will be attending three major events that focus on micro-mobility, car rental and taxi industry. We’re looking forward to making new connections, meeting potential partners, and showing how our platform can revolutionize shared mobility. Here’s where we’ll be and why you should join us!

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World Travel Market (WTM) London 2024

When: November 5-7, 2024
Where: London, UK‍
Website: World Travel Market London

WTM London is one of the biggest events in the travel and tourism industry, but it’s not just for travel enthusiasts! There’s a growing focus on sustainable urban mobility, making it an exciting event for businesses in the micro-mobility and vehicle-sharing space.

With industry leaders from all over the world, this is a fantastic chance to network and learn about how mobility is becoming a key part of travel experiences.

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EU Taximesse 2024

When: November 8-9, 2024
Where: Cologne, Germany
Website: EU Taximess

The EU Taximesse is Europe’s top event for taxi and ride-hailing services, but it's not just about taxis anymore. This event is also a great place to explore new mobility technologies, including vehicle-sharing and fleet management solutions. If you’re working in or alongside these industries, this is the event to check out.

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Micromobility America 2024

When: November 14-15, 2024
Where: Costa Mesa, California, USA‍
Website: Micromobility America

If you’re into micro-mobility, is the event to be at! Taking place in California, this event brings together industry leaders, startups, and city planners to discuss the latest trends in urban transportation. From e-scooters to e-bikes, it's a hub for everything micro-mobility. We’re excited to be attending this event to explore how cities can build smarter, greener transport solutions. Whether you're a startup, an investor, or a city planner, we'd love to connect and discuss how we can collaborate to transform urban mobility.

Why are these events a must, if you’re working in the field?

Connect with industry leaders: These events are the perfect place to meet key players in the mobility industry. Let’s chat and see how we can work together to drive innovation in micro-mobility and vehicle-sharing.

Discover the latest trends: Stay ahead of the curve by learning about the newest technologies and business models shaping the future of transportation.‍

Grow your business: Whether you’re a startup looking for partners or an established company aiming to expand, these events offer incredible opportunities for collaboration.

Shall we meet?

Are you planning to attend any of these events? Reach out to us – we can’t wait to connect!

Don’t miss out on these amazing mobility events in the last quarter of 2024! Whether you're in Cologne, London, or California, these events offer an unbeatable chance to learn, network, and explore the future of urban transportation.

Unlocking new revenue streams: B2B partnership ideas in shared mobility

🚀 Want to boost your fleet’s profit? By teaming up with other businesses and trying new B2B ideas, you can generate more revenue and streamline your operations. Explore some interesting B2B revenue-generating ideas!

October 7, 2024

In the ever-evolving shared mobility industry, diversifying revenue streams is essential for long-term stability and growth. At ATOM Mobility, we are committed to equipping operators with a robust SaaS platform that not only keeps your business running efficiently but also adapts to new challenges. By exploring B2B opportunities within the shared mobility space, you can expand your use-case and tap into new revenue possibilities. Harness the power of our SaaS platform alongside your innovative ideas to unlock fresh opportunities and foster sustainable growth.

Are you ready to supercharge your fleet revenue? The traditional routes are great, but sometimes it’s time to think outside the box—or rather, outside the vehicle. Let’s explore how expanding your use-case to B2B can drive revenue within the shared mobility sector.‍

‍What is B2B in Mobility?

Shared mobility often conjures images of B2C operations where individuals rent or share vehicles, B2B mobility represents a different approach. In this model, services are specifically designed for use by members of corporations, organizations or communities (business-to-business).

For instance, a hotel might offer scooters for guests to explore the area, or a company could provide employees with discounted access to shared vehicles for business trips or commuting. These examples highlight B2B mobility, where a shared mobility operator partners with a business or organization. This collaboration not only generates financial benefits for both parties but also helps companies reduce their carbon footprint and creates new revenue streams for mobility operators.

Here are some creative ideas to enhance your fleet revenue through innovative B2B partnerships and new opportunities:

Franchising

In shared mobility, a common franchising approach involves operators partnering with other mobility providers, allowing them to operate under your brand and software. In this model, the franchisor provides a comprehensive operating system, including its brand, products, services, and operational framework. This offers a turnkey solution for managing a shared mobility business. Franchisees receive extensive support, such as site selection, development guidance, operational manuals, training, marketing strategies, and ongoing business advisory services.

Leverage ATOM Mobility's dashboard subaccount system to grant Franchisees access restricted to their specific operations and the fleet you assign, enabling your partners to efficiently manage vehicle sharing or digital rental operations under your brand.

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Explore corporate fleet solutions

Many businesses are on the lookout for reliable, scalable fleet solutions for their corporate needs. By positioning your fleet as an ideal solution for corporate transportation, you can open up new revenue streams. For example, you can partner with a larger company and allow their employees to use your fleet at a special price during working days. At the same time, the company can assign different mobility budgets to various employee groups to use in your app. In such cases, the company, your partner, will cover the rides of their employees at specially agreed rates.

Check out our corporate account management for more insights on how to get started. Businesses often need transportation solutions for employee commutes, client visits, and even business trips. Tap into this need, and you’ll see your fleet revenue soar.

There are two core cooperation models with larger companies:

- Allowing their employees to use publicly available vehicles at specific times via your app, with all rides covered by the company.

- Dedicating, and potentially branding, a portion of your fleet for a specific company, making it available exclusively to them and their employees. In this model, you provide the support, software, and maintenance, ensuring that this fleet is accessible only to that company.

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‍Join forces with local hotspots

By teaming up with local cafés, retail stores, or entertainment venues, you can offer special promotions to their customers. It’s a win-win! Local businesses get more foot traffic, and you get a steady stream of new riders or renters. This works very well in micro-mobility.

For example, you could offer a discount on vehicle rentals to patrons of a local restaurant or provide shuttle services for events at a nearby theater. Plus, it’s a great way to make your fleet a local celebrity!

Dive into delivery and logistics sector

With the explosion of e-commerce, there’s a significant opportunity in the delivery and logistics sector. You can partner with online retailers or local businesses in need of delivery services, offering either a full-service solution, including delivery, or simply leasing vehicles to them.

By providing dedicated delivery solutions or offering special rates for bulk deliveries, you can tap into a lucrative market and scale from there. Your fleet can become the preferred delivery solution for online shops and local stores, increasing your revenue while keeping your vehicles in constant use.

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Create exclusive tourist packages

Tourism is another goldmine for fleet revenue. Collaborate with travel agencies, hotels, or tourist attractions to offer exclusive transportation packages. Imagine a package deal where tourists get a ride to all the must-see spots in town with a single booking. It’s convenient for tourists and profitable for you!

For inspiration on how to cater to tourist destinations, check out our Vehicle Fleet Owners’ Guide to Tourist Destinations.

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Leverage event partnerships

Events, from corporate conferences to local festivals, are perfect opportunities for fleet revenue growth. Partner with event organizers to provide shuttle services, VIP transport, or event-specific rentals.

You could also offer branded vehicles as part of the event experience. Imagine your fleet driving event-goers around town, all while being seen by thousands of potential new customers.

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Offer vehicle subscription services

Subscription services are on the rise. Why not offer a vehicle subscription model where businesses can subscribe to access a variety of vehicles based on their needs? This model can provide steady, predictable revenue and attract customers who prefer flexibility over long-term commitments.

ATOM Mobility’s private fleet options can easily be adapted to fit a subscription model. Learn more about our private fleet solutions to see how this could work for you.

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To ensure your new B2B offering is successful, follow this easy five-step process for each new B2B revenue direction you want to test:

- Identify partners: Research and reach out to businesses that could benefit from your B2B offering. At this stage, presentations and text will be sufficient, and the main goal is to collect feedback and gauge interest.

- Customize services: Based on the feedback collected, tailor your offerings to meet each partner's specific needs and address their pain points for better value. This is a good time to sign an agreement with them.

- Set up the platform: Ensure your technology and fleet are ready for B2B. Partner with experts like ATOM Mobility for seamless technical support and easy onboarding.

- Run a pilot: Test your approach with small-scale pilots to gather feedback, assess the financial model, and improve your solution.

- Scale up: Once pilots succeed, expand to new partners and regions using the insights gained.

Ready to boost your revenue?

There’s a whole world of opportunities out there to enhance your shared fleet revenue through creative partnerships and innovative B2B solutions. At ATOM Mobility, we’re here to help you explore these exciting possibilities and take your fleet to the next level.

Ready to get started? Join ATOM Mobility today and discover how you can create a fleet that’s not just functional but also profitable. Let’s drive innovation and success together!

Fleet replacement: The key to keeping your business on the road

🚗🔄 Keeping your business on the road means knowing when to replace your fleet. A smart fleet replacement strategy can prevent costly disruptions and optimize vehicle lifecycle. Discover how real-time fleet management can help you make informed decisions.

September 10, 2024