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Book & Move: Pioneering car booking and sharing for the humanitarian sector

13 January 2021

Seen by Arnaud and Regis, CLS Service managers

Arnaud and RégisCarshare solutions have become the norm in many parts of the world. But in war zones, refugee camps and developing countries, the security issues made them seem like an impossible dream.

Until now, that is. Thanks to a multidisciplinary task force and months of hard work, the company’s HumaNav car booking and sharing solution for the aid sector is now available worldwide and already has over 1,000 users, with 4,500 bookings registered so far!

 

Unique in its field

CLS prides itself on really listening to customers, with its HumaNav vehicle tracking and fleet management solution for aid agencies undergoing a raft of client-led developments since its launch in 2006. So when service managers Arnaud Battery and Régis Gourmandin heard about a customer’s need for a carshare system, they acted immediately.

Arnaud explains: “This client operates in the crises zones and when they mentioned a carsharing tool, we realized immediately that nothing of its kind existed in the sector and that it was something we could do!”

As soon as the two colleagues returned to HQ, a multidisciplinary task force was created within CLS to bring the idea to fruition. The resulting Fleetsharing module is an optional add-on for both new and existing HumaNav customers. It has been developed to be as user-friendly as a normal carshare solution, but with specific functions tailored to the humanitarian sector regarding cost reduction and security. So transport needs can be anticipated to optimize fleets and reduce fuel costs, while managers can see in real time where passengers and vehicles are and thereby ensure that trips are safer and better supervised.

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Book & Move SOLUTION

Fleet Sharing schema

On the frontline

Arnaud working on humanitarian toolsRight from the start, Régis and Arnaud have remained on the frontline, working very closely with the system’s first customers to ensure it meets their needs and is easy to use on the ground.

“It was our job to understand their specific requirements, provide training, ensure proper use of the tool and then relay feedback to the team so further improvements could be made. That work is ongoing, with new functions added every month” says Régis.

These functions include an e-booking system accessible via any device to digitize and centralize requests, a pool and dispatch system to optimize fleet use, plus a reporting system that provides KPIs for any given zone or period of time. The result is increased security and efficiency for users, better visibility for dispatchers and optimization of resources for the agencies.

But it wasn’t just about the technology, as Arnaud explains. “A major part of the process was accompanying the change and shifting mentalities. Many dispatchers were used to having to react last minute to transport requests by phone, email, text etc. and were in a permanent state of emergency. Having a paperless overview of all requests in one place – with suggested combinations of users, vehicles and drivers – was lifechanging for them, so we needed to walk them through it step by step.”

 

From Intra-Agency to Inter-Agency

Regis working on humanitarian toolsAsked how they feel about spearheading the creation of such a revolutionary tool for the humanitarian sector, Régis and Arnaud remain modest.

“I think the whole team feels great to be working on something that improves the safety and lives of people working in very difficult conditions, and that goes for the entire HumaNav project,” says Régis.

Arnaud adds: “Our customers are now starting to use the Fleetsharing module not just within their own agencies but also as an inter-agency solution, which is the best recommendation we could possibly have!”

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