Fleet decision-makers are increasingly being urged to focus on “business mobility” and the overall cost of journeys and not simply the cost of vehicles.

It is against that background that the UK’s premier fleet decision-makers’ organisation, ACFO, is focusing on “The Drive for Mobility” at its autumn seminar.

Taking place on October 19 at the NEC, Birmingham, the half-day seminar starting at 9.30am is being supported by LeasePlan UK, a member of LeasePlan Corporation NV Group, part of the world’s leading fleet and vehicle management company. The group operates a fleet of more than 1.5 million vehicles and provides leasing and fleet management solutions in 32 countries and across five continents.

Fleetondemand, one of the first technology companies to deliver a mobility as service platform dedicated to business, is also supporting the seminar.

The seminar is being held as part of Fleet Management LIVE, organised by trade publication Fleet News, and taking place at the NEC, Birmingham, on October 19 and 20.

At the seminar, the findings from a unique ACFO survey relating to current corporate mobility needs and requirements will be revealed.

The survey will close this evening (Friday, 23rd September). It can be accessed by clicking here.

ACFO chairman John Pryor said: “Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) describes a shift away from personally owned and operated modes of transport towards mobility solutions that are consumed as a service. 

“Whilst the MaaS concept has been widely adopted by consumers in urban locations, there is a lack of clarity of how MaaS could and should be adopted amongst corporates. It seems obvious that MaaS offers both challenges and opportunities for our members.”

Those challenges and opportunities will be the seminar’s focus with a range of speakers helping to interpret the survey’s findings while also highlighting their own views on how fleet decision-makers and their employers can utilise MaaS; explaining how technology is underpinning the mobility drive; and providing clarity around the potential corporate use of vehicle rental, car sharing, car clubs and public transport as well as video and tele conferencing and the continuing use of company cars and vans.

Pryor said: “Business mobility or MaaS is being much talked about, but many corporates are not exactly sure what it means or how they can benefit and how it integrates with current fleet operations. The seminar will start the debate and, we believe, set the agenda for future discussions as to how mobility solutions allied to technology can be embraced by fleet decisions-makers.”

He added: “All organisations are examining how they can drive down costs and improve employee productivity. Fleet is about the total cost of vehicle ownership, while business mobility is about examining the total cost of the journey.”

Indeed, the seminar builds on ACFO’s publication, “From A to B: The ACFO Guide to UK Journey Planning”. It provides a thought-provoking basis from which public, private and voluntary sector organisations can look at just how effective - and sustainable - their existing mobility options are. The guide can be accessed at www.acfo.org.

Hein du Plessis, head of product development, LeasePlan UK, who will be among the seminar speakers, said: “As a major partner with companies in the UK and globally we are witnessing growing demand for end-to-end mobility solutions, which is effectively about travel management.

“Our own studies also highlight growing interest in the concept of ‘usage’, which means that assets are shared rather than owned and a tendency towards subscription-based products and services.

“The concept of MaaS maybe embryonic in the UK, but it will evolve and LeasePlan will play a key role in that development. Consequently it is delighted to be partnering with ACFO to explore how fleet decision-makers can consider integrating the range of solutions available into their organisations.”

Seminar speakers will also include:

• Graeme Banister, consulting director at global research and consulting organisation Frost & Sullivan
• Charles Joel, of IBM, and Chris Haynes, fleet and business travel manager (UK & Ireland) Operations at Ricoh, who will highlight how their respective employers have embraced MaaS
• Justin Whitston, chief executive, Fleetondemand
• Andrew Laughlan, head of sales at on demand mobility company GETT
• Hamish Phillips, regional corporate sales manager, UK - Tesla.

ACFO members wanting to attend the seminar should email Fiona Spencer at info@acfo.org. The event is also open to non-members.