Business as usual for partners after Zeelo agrees sale to Swvl
Operators working with Zeelo have been reassured that it will remain business as usual after the firm is acquired by Swvl, a global provider of transformative tech-enabled mass transit solutions. Definitive agreement was reached between the two companies in late April and completion of the deal is expected in May.
Swvl is already active in over 115 cities in 20 countries, providing business-to-business and business-to-customer intercity and intracity shared transport.
In a letter to operators, Zeelo Co-Founder and CEO Sam Ryan says that the combination with Swvl will deliver “an enhanced solution of integrated products and services that will better serve the needs of our operator partners and customers.” He has also reassured partners that “nothing will change” in their existing contracts with Zeelo, and nor will Zeelo’s leadership or wider team.
Mr Ryan adds: “This is a strategic merger with a global player in our industry that is set to improve the service and help us to extend our reach to new customers and new markets without compromising on the excellence of our service. We expect that being partners with Zeelo will now bring you more and higher value customer contracts to help bolster your business even further.”
In a statement, Swvl says Zeelo’s business is “in alignment” with its own, particularly the work underway by Zeelo to transition to zero-emission by 2030 all vehicles used on its behalf in developed markets.
Swvl adds that the purchase of Zeelo will follow other recent acquisitions and will allow it to rapidly expand its operations in territories served by Zeelo. That includes the UK, which Swvl describes as an “attractive market.”
Adds Mr Ryan: “We look forward to bringing Swvl insights from Zeelo’s strategic pivot during the global pandemic and we have been impressed with Swvl’s fast growth in challenging markets. We are excited to leverage its global experience as we embark on a shared journey to develop safe, affordable and low-emission mass transportation options.”
The purchase of Zeelo will allow Swvl to continue to pursue “organic and inorganic strategic initiatives,” notes Swvl Chief Financial Officer Youssef Salem.
Asset Alliance Group strengthens coach and bus funding team
Commercial vehicle funding specialist Asset Alliance Group has strengthened its coach and bus division with two appointments.
Scott Burke (pictured) has joined as National Sales Manager, while Jane Roberts has been named Sales Support Manager.
Ms Roberts will manage the coach and bus sales process and provide what Asset Alliance describes as “dedicated focus and support across specific accounts.” She will also support the group’s truck and trailer sales division and work from Asset Alliance’s Ringwood offices, reporting to Head of Vendor Finance and Key Accounts Anthony Jones.
Mr Burke has 15 years’ experience in coach and bus funding, with previous experience including positions with Mistral Asset Finance and Propel Finance. His remit covers strategic sales and the unlocking of new opportunities for the business.
He says: “Asset Alliance Group’s personal and flexible approach to sales and customer relationships matches my own way of working. I am thrilled to be joining a team of experienced people who are really passionate about the industry.
“There is no doubt that the effects of the pandemic hit the coach and bus industry hard, but it has been reassuring to see such resilience from companies and individuals. I am looking forward to working alongside growth-focused customers to ensure that they can get back to where they were – and beyond.”
Mr Burke works from Asset Alliance’s base in Manchester. He reports to Sales Director Darren Fitzpatrick.
Park's of Hamilton chooses Optibus cloud-based software
Coach operator Park's of Hamilton has chosen Optibus planning, scheduling and rostering, and operations software to increase its fleet efficiency and improve driver retention.
The Optibus package replaces manual planning and scheduling. Its purchase follows research by the operator into how it could grow efficiency across the business. Manual errors have been eliminated and visibility into analytics such as costs has been improved. Additionally, crew and vehicle scheduling has been enhanced, as have the use of relief vehicles, rostering and other aspects.
Says Operations Manager Graeme Hoggan: “We have been looking at introducing this kind of software for some time to replace our manual processes. Optibus was the only solution that was the right fit for us. Having software that is native to the cloud, versus simply being hosted on it or being server-based, was a key factor for us.
“The software’s ability to provide visibility into our efficiency will have huge benefits for us, especially given the scale of the challenges that we face as an industry.”
Adds Optibus Regional Director for UK and Ireland Adam Quieros: “We are delighted to welcome Park's of Hamilton to the Optibus family and to further expand our presence in Scotland. We feel privileged that Park's has chosen Optibus as its first software solution in its journey towards digitalisation, and we look forward to a fruitful partnership over the coming years.”
Park's will be one of the first UK operators to adopt Optibus’s Operations module, which launches in 2022 and will deliver further efficiencies.