Ryde partners with Port to improve last-mile deliveries in London

Ryde, a delivery service company providing businesses with the technology, people, and vehicles to create integrated logistics solutions, has announced a pilot program with Port, a pioneering e-mobility startup that offers the industry-first, comprehensive e-mobility solution to the last-mile delivery industry.

Port provides fleets of light electric vehicles that are locked and charged in dedicated ports, installed in hubs across inner-city parkings. The vehicles are offered on a simple subscription in a full e-mobility package, which includes parking, charging, maintenance, and software.

The wide range of electric vehicles, including bikes, mopeds, cargo bikes and scooters can cover up to 100 km on a single charge. They are easily accessible to the riders who can simply unlock an electric vehicle in the app, use it for deliveries, and return it back to the hub upon finishing work.

For the duration of the pilot, Ryde has rented all e-vehicles from the Port hub in Q-Park Leicester Square parking in London. Using Port’s software platform, Ryde will grant free access to these vehicles to a selected group of Ryde couriers. Convenient location of the hub makes it easily accessible by public transport, including the Tube, buses, as well as trains terminating at the nearby Charing Cross station.

This allows couriers living all around Greater London to receive jobs in the busy West End area, without the hassle of bringing their own vehicle. The pilot program is open for a limited group of couriers, selected on a basis of their productivity and performance.

Duncan Mitchell, co-founder and CEO of Ryde said: “As we’re building a same-day delivery business that is people and planet friendly, we are working with an unwavering dedication to support our riders, as their higher engagement results in overall better experiences for end customers.

“We are excited to partner with Port, as it provides the industry-first, end-to-end e-mobility solution that helps us reduce carbon footprint, improve courier convenience and increase overall efficiency. As a rider-first business, equipping our riders with efficient electric vehicles is another step to further strengthen our leading offering for businesses, riders and residents of the cities.”

Ryde co-founders Duncan Mitchell and Tom Nimmo, both veterans in the gig-economy tech, launched Ryde with a mission to improve the working lives of delivery riders and drivers. Following the boom in deliveries spurred by the pandemic, Mitchell and Nimmo saw the opportunity to make measurable improvements for riders through partnerships, support, and superior technology to optimize work.

Their unique shift-based approach to on-demand delivery helps their customers reduce costs and improve overall productivity. Riders also gains the advantage of shift-based work, with greater job security and better pay than traditional on-demand jobs.

By Mark Adair – Correspondent, Bdaily

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