Dott, Bolt, Lime, and other companies are kindly offering consumers short-distance rides on shared electrical scooters. It is almost impossible to imagine a modern city without those services but, as a rule, they can not be distinguished in terms of the brand.
Let’s move to a detailed review of those scooters. All of them are free to use all over the city (there is a map inside the app allowing you to find the nearest scooter). When you approach one you can scan a Qr-code with your phone camera and start a ride. Some services have made it possible to turn on the “ring” function (that is the way a scooter informs you about its location) Moreover, there is a possibility to book a scooter in advance (the company will charge you for it). All of the scooters have a battery that allows you to ride up to 30 km distance long. The maximum speed is 25 km/hour. Acceleration is almost the same among the services. The company will charge you for your ride when you end it (0.5 zl per minute). All the transactions are conducted with Apple Pay/Google Pay or you may pay by card, which should be added in advance. And of course, all scooters are “green” what makes them ideal personal vehicles.
Similar tariffs, similar designs, and similar apps are continuously assuring us that there is a certain pattern of how this business should be conducted, what rules should be followed, and what features should be introduced. The discussion that is coming of that should sound “What are the pros and cons of offering homogeneous services or products?”
The market is fully controlled by several competitors so the competition is limited, existing products are improving, however, no new developments are being introduced. On the one hand, this creates a situation where customers have the access to a simplified market where they do not have to compare services and make analytics, what is good. Companies can make higher profits since the price is under their control. And there is still some competition (in terms of design, some special features inside the app, and special offers). On the other hand, such an oligopoly makes it almost impossible for new players to enter the market and introduce their innovative products to create healthy competition. What is more, people are no more supposed to opt for the best scooter. They are supposed to opt for the nearest scooter instead, cause there is absolutely no difference in them.
This blog is not only about trendy scooters or about oligopolies in today’s world it more about the wrong path we are choosing right now. Smartphones, cars, tablets, etc. are becoming (or have already become?) homogeneous. The vast majority of the companies are following the trend, only some are trying to make these trends.
Links:
https://bolt.eu/
https://www.li.me/second-street/lime-europe-new-cities-new-records-travel-app
https://ridedott.com/
https://www.investopedia.com/terms/o/oligopoly.asp
I totally agree with this sentence “The vast majority of the companies are following the trend, only some are trying to make these trends ”
What is interesting is how people will see our century in the future. Will technology become really homogenous?
They could presumably become. The thing I am worried more about is whether they will be still interesting and useful. I guess, they will.
Oh wow. I didn’t know they are offering their services for free? What is the benefit?
I have lived in a variety of cities, but was never brave enough to use one of this scooters :). But I have to say that since they popped up all over the place, walking down the street became a little more stressful 🙂
Are you referred to them being free or charge?
Or free as an “everyone can use them”?
If its second, then sorry I must’ve misunderstood.
Yeah, it’s second. Sorry for confusing
Unfortunately, some countries are not ready for such changes, especially the mentality of people.