Article: The rising demand and benefits of corporate commute in India

Life @ Work

The rising demand and benefits of corporate commute in India

India is witnessing an increasing demand for corporate commutes on the back of traffic and safety issues and the Transport Automation Systems are transforming employee commutes and helping organizations in attracting and retaining talent. Read here to know how.
The rising demand and benefits of corporate commute in India

A study conducted by the National Sample Survey Organization (NSSO) revealed that the number of two-way commuters in the country increased from 6.34 Mn to 24.62 Mn from 1993 – 2010. This points towards the fact that millions of commuters travel to and from work every single day. These workers can hardly rely on the country’s erratic public transportation system, given the lack of appropriate infrastructure and safety while traveling via buses, autos or even unregulated cabs. The excess of traffic on Indian roads further fuels the problems by causing rampant traffic jams, pile-ups and breakdowns. Additionally, rotational shifts and more women joining the workforce further induce the need for safe and reliable transportation for employees.

Further, a study conducted by the University of the West of England found that every extra minute spent traveling to and from work reduces job and leisure time satisfaction, increases strain and worsens the mental health of employees. 

The corporate commute challenge in India 

Spending hours in cabs picking up and dropping off employees that live nowhere on the same route can thus directly affect the productivity of employees. In order to avoid long routes that are a result of shared cabs, employees prefer cab companies that levy peak time charges increasing the cost of conveyance considerably. Some employees end up getting delayed due to the lack of availability of cabs during peak hours. Again, arriving late to work every day hampers the productivity of employees thus costing the company as it is unable to meet its targets. 

The above-mentioned problems make it imperative for companies to sponsor employee commutes and provide them with safe and effective modes of travel. Employee cabs regulated by recognized aggregators thus come into the picture. Several large corporates have tied up with aggregators and provide on-time cabs driven by reliable drivers to their employees. However, the main game-changer that is transforming employee commutes are Transport Automation Systems

The role of Transport Automation Systems in solving the challenge 

These innovative systems utilize technologies such as IoT and AI in order to plot the shortest and quickest routes while also grouping together employees that live on the same route. These systems can also predict demand and supply of transportation within the organization so companies only order as many automobiles as required on a day to day basis. 

Predictive analysis tools that are employed by such advanced systems can identify impending bottlenecks and congestion so as to reduce the number of hours employees have to spend on the road every day. 

Technology integrated with cabs can also ensure the safety of passengers with one-click red alert and live tracking options through GPS systems. Employees can notify their employers as and when they board and de-board cabs while also rating and reviewing drivers according to their driving skills and manners. Digital backup of driver records can ensure that only reliable drivers are deployed by aggregators for employee transportation purposes. 

The added advantages of the corporate commute benefits 

The benefits of automated employee transportation systems are not limited to employees alone. Corporates that provide commute to their employees themselves reap multiple benefits from the act. Companies that are looking to strengthen their team can leverage the fact that they provide commutes for employees to attract more talent. 

Several able candidates that live far off from corporate hubs are unable to contribute to the economy due to the fact that they lack conveyance. Such employees, if offered commuting options, will be able to join the workforce and become an asset to companies. Owing to this factor, numerous companies are adding sponsored commute as an added perk to their job postings. 

Moreover, it has been noticed that companies providing employee transportation clock in higher employee retention rates. Employee loyalty can be achieved through gestures such as safe commutes on the employer’s part. 

Furthermore, when employees are offered safe and quick commute options, it has a positive effect on their productivity and well being. When employees spend less time traveling, they can clock in more hours, thereby increasing their contribution to the company’s endeavors. 

Employees that spend lesser hours commuting are also healthier and take fewer sick leaves. The chances of employee burnout also reduce significantly through a process as simple as employee commute. Other benefits of employee commute services to employers include minimizing payroll taxes, enhancing customer access to goods and services and expanding service hours. 

Finally, shared employee transportation is a boon for the environment as it translates to a lesser number of cars on the road. This significantly lowers a company’s carbon footprint, thereby making it an environment-friendly enterprise. It is also cost effective for the company as it does not have to pay for individual conveyance to employees. 

Employee-sponsored transportation evidently has unparalleled benefits for employees as well as employers. Due to these upsides, the country is witnessing an exponential increase corporate commute service providers that offer unmatched travel facilities for employees that come to work from far off locations. The phenomenal success of employee commute services will bolster employee productivity and keep companies on the peak of productivity. 

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Topics: Life @ Work, Technology, Employee Engagement

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