Aaron Orman spends his days monitoring green dots on an on-screen map of London. Orman, UK and Ireland head of operations for e-scooter and e-bike hire operator Tier, scrutinises the dots — which show the locations of the company’s vehicles — for signs they are wrongly parked, their batteries are flat or they need repair. He assigns staff to resolve any problems.
Tier, based in Berlin, says its expertise at tracking vehicles and keeping them charged, well-maintained and in designated parking spaces is a key advantage in the crowded “micromobility” market to provide bike, scooter and other lightweight personal transport services.
The operator hopes that its knowhow, developed through operating in more than 560 cities in 33 countries, will ensure it survives in a fast-growing sector scrambling to achieve reliable profitability.