Zipcar, the world’s largest and fastest growing car sharing service, announced a mobile strategy that will provide instant, anywhere access to its vehicle fleet from members’ mobile devices. In the first phase, Zipcar will launch a mobile version of its web-reservation site, enable text message options, and announce a partnership with uLocate Communications to create a robust GPS enabled Zipcar widget that will allow members to find and reserve vehicles from their favorite mobile device.
"Zipcar offers universal membership to the largest and most varied car sharing fleet in the world," said Scott Griffith, CEO of Zipcar. "We are seeing more personal and business members take advantage of the fact that there is a Zipcar waiting for them in more than 35 cities worldwide. Our members live a fast-paced, mobile lifestyle, using and relying on mobile devices for everyday needs. Our strategy is to meet their lifestyle and allow them to simply find and reserve a car whether they are in their hometown or visiting a less familiar Zipcar city."
Zipcar members around the world now experience:
* "Zipcar Mobile Locator" finds convenient cars: "Zipcar mobile locator" is a robust GPS-based mobile application that allows members to view and reserve Zipcar’s worldwide fleet of vehicles based on their current location. It was developed in partnership with uLocate, and launched on WHERE™, the world’s first mobile GPS widget platform. When downloaded, the widget allows members to utilize cellular GPS to locate and view Zipcars on their mobile screen as well as instantly connect to Zipcar’s reservation system to select a nearby vehicle.
* Text messaging improves member service, cuts costs: Zipcar members are able to opt into text messaging options. Initially, all text messages will be service oriented: reminding members of a reservation, sending details about vehicle location, and alerting members of the possibility to extend their reservation. Text messages will provide members with comprehensive, real-time interaction with the service reducing late returns and incoming customer service calls.
* Mobile reservation site: More than 90% of Zipcar’s members use mobile applications on a weekly basis and they rely on a variety of devices for their needs, including an early 5% adoption rate of the iPhone. With this in mind, Zipcar developed a mobile version of its reservation site to allow members on-the-go access to the familiar reservation site through any mobile device.
Zipcar’s mobile upgrades build upon the company’s web-reservation and back-end technology redesign completed in March, 2007. As the most ambitious and significant upgrades in the company’s history, these enhancements have allowed Zipcar members to reserve vehicles up to five times faster and enabled the company to scale operations in existing markets while opening new operations.
Source: Zipcar