The Last Mile: Collaborating to Keep Micromobility Rolling in 2021

Like most markets, the first half of 2020 proved a bumpy ride for the micromobility sector. But through resiliency and collaboration, many industry players closed out the year fielding more demand than ever for sustainable and sharable vehicle systems. Across hardware and software, working together will pave the road for a successful 2021. In this podcast, Tony Ho, VP of Global Business Development for Segway, and Vince Cifani, CEO and Founder of micromobility SaaS platform Joyride, speak about the impact COVID-19 had on the industry, and how their companies’ collaborative efforts will ultimately improve micromoiblity for end-users.

In the US, the pandemic found its roots in March of 2020, but Ho says Segway felt the concerns right from the start of the year due to China’s supply chain relationships. “We were very worried about a supply shock,” Ho says. “That turned into a demand shock instead.” The supply chain eventually returned to normal levels, but Ho notes that lockdowns in various areas affected people’s ability to go places, making micromobility transportation options attractive alternatives to public transit. “On the second half of 2020, we saw a lot of crazy demand for our scooters and other form factors as well.”

Cifani recognizes the challenges brought on by the pandemic but says the most significant industry obstacles for scooter-sharing operators actually existed pre-pandemic: Affordable insurance for fleets, vehicle selection and fulfillment, and how to maintain and operate their fleets properly. “Through collaboration with industry leaders like Segway, we’re resolving these challenges for businesses that operate on our software platform,” Cifani says.

Ho and Cifani believe 2021 will be an important year for collaboration in the micromobility industry, both from a technology level and an intercompany. Ho says companies within the industry are more specialized now and that requires collaboration between other specialized companies. “People see the need to focus, but at the same time, they see the need to efficiently work together,” Ho says.

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Twitter – @MarketScale
Facebook – facebook.com/marketscale
LinkedIn – linkedin.com/company/marketscale

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

data center design
Applied Digital’s Data Center Design for a 100 MW AI Factory Built from the Ground Up
July 2, 2025

AI workloads are redefining the limits of data center design and infrastructure. Legacy data centers, built for traditional co-location, cannot handle the density, thermal demands, or power dynamics of accelerated computing. The AI boom has upended the data center sector, forcing a rapid shift to liquid-cooled racks as facilities pivot from sub-10kW racks to…

Read More
Commerce media
A Look at the Rise of Commerce Media Networks: How Nift Helps Brands Own How Their Message Shows Up
July 2, 2025

As traditional digital advertising struggles to retain consumer trust, brands are exploring new, more authentic ways to connect with shoppers. Platforms like commerce media networks, which weave together commerce, content, and data, are emerging as powerful tools in this shift. Research from MG2 Advisory reveals that only about 37% of consumers feel brands genuinely…

Read More
Hospitality leadership
Heart-First Hospitality Leadership: How Saying ‘Yes’ Transforms Guest Experiences, Boosts Staff Morale, and Drives Business Results
July 2, 2025

As the hospitality industry emerges from years of pandemic-driven upheaval, hospitality leadership is evolving to meet new challenges. Leaders are looking for new ways to retain staff, elevate guest satisfaction, and drive revenue without burning out their teams. One trend gaining traction is the power of “Yes”: empowering employees to say yes more often,…

Read More
civic leadership
Mayor Gerard Hudspeth’s Civic Leadership Journey: What Politics Teaches About People
July 2, 2025

What does a mayor learn about human nature? In this episode of Professional Quotient: Conversations that Build Equity, host Jason Winningham sits down with Gerard Hudspeth, longtime mayor of Denton, Texas, and a respected figure in civic leadership. Drawing from his years in public service, Hudspeth explores how leading a city reveals the core…

Read More