CommuteEdge - An Effective Transport Management System to Streamline Employee Commutes in Organisations

Abstract

"Commuting is the first hurdle that an individual must overcome, concerning all other challenges that exist in a workplace. Traffic congestion and air pollution during rush hours are well-known nowadays due to the excessive use of private vehicles in larger cities. Prolonged commuting difficulties can lead to financial burdens, a distortion of work-life balance, and absenteeism, eventually resulting in employee turnover. On the other hand, organisations struggle with workforce productivity loss and rising operational costs due to inefficient management of resources to facilitate employee transportation. Therefore, effectively addressing these challenges requires an employee-centric approach to managing corporate transportation. Commuting difficulties and personal responses to these challenges vary based on individual circumstances (work and travel characteristics, infrastructure, etc.). A corporate transportation survey was conducted among 65 employees to comprehend these challenges and gain insights into developing an effective transport management solution. Results showed that 90.8% of participants had faced commuting difficulties, and traffic congestion, long commute times, inadequate infrastructure, high transportation costs, and the lack of reliability of public transportation were identified as common issues employees encounter during their commute to work. Participants' opinions on a transport solution that is incentivised by their company were gathered, and reliability and flexibility of service, user-friendliness, cost-effectiveness, and time efficiency were stated as the key features that they expect from such a system; hence, meeting these criteria is critical for the success of an effective solution. CommuteEdge is a streamlined platform that can be used by multiple organisations to facilitate employee transportation through a centralised transport management system. It is aimed at increasing the efficiency of transport resources across various entities using a shared shuttle service. A mobile application was developed for employees and drivers to improve the usability of the system, and this unique approach of shared transportation followed by CommuteEdge not only redefines corporate transportation but also enhances its impact on urban mobility, corporate culture, and sustainability. "