Developing vs. Subscribing: Choosing the Best E-Scooter Software

The world of micro-mobility is moving at a faster rate. Technological advancements and the need for affordable transportation have made the scooter rental business one of the rising trends. If you want to start your scooter-sharing business, there is one thing that you MUST have: e-scooter software.

A scooter-sharing software is the core of your business, and it helps you manage your fleet, operations, and revenue. You can either develop your software from scratch or subscribe to off-the-shelf software. But which one of these two is the best choice for you? That’s what we will discuss in this blog, from understanding the meaning of e-scooter software to understanding the pros and cons of developing and subscribing to the factors you must consider before making the final call. We will help you with all the knowledge we have gained from your customers. Let’s get started!

Why do you need an e-scooter software?

Have you ever played a video game with a remote controller or a keyboard? Most probably not. Running a scooter rental business is something similar. You might have the best fleet and an eager target audience, but all of it would mean nothing if you didn’t have software to offer your service to the audience. The e-scooter software includes admin software to manage the operations and a user app for the end-user to book, unlock and enjoy their ride.

Following are a few things that a scooter sharing software can help you with:

Fleet management: The software helps you track your fleets on the road and rebalance them in real time. Through the software, you can check the scooter’s performance.
User experience: The part of the software solution includes the user app to reach your target audience. The scooter-sharing app allows users to create an account, book a ride, unlock the scooter, pay for their ride, and get customer support quickly.
Analyzing KPIs: The business depends on analyzing your KPIs and taking decisive measures to improve the performance. Therefore, the performance data stored in the software is analyzed using in-build analysis and reporting tools to understand your business and make data-backed decisions.

You can create scooter-sharing software from scratch or subscribe to a reputable off-the-shelf software. But what’s the difference between these two? Let’s understand the pros and cons of both solutions to help you choose the best option for you.

Pros and cons of developing e-scooter software from scratch

Building an e-scooter software includes diverse tasks like finding the right developers, choosing the software layout, building the software with efficient technologies, integrating data sources, testing and debugging, and many more mundane tasks. The development has its pros and cons; let’s talk more about it.

Customized software per your needs

Software is the most critical component of your scooter rental business. Therefore, it must cater to your unique needs. Customization could be in terms of unique branding or features accommodating the local regulation. Create a layout that fits needs and boosts user engagement through the user app.

Scalable as your business grows

With efficient scooter software, you can ensure satisfied customers leading to more demand for your services. That leads to the addition of more fleets for the software to manage. Therefore, your e-scooter software should be scalable to accommodate the growing business effortlessly. By developing it from scratch, you have control of scaling the software when needed. You can add features to connect with your growing audience and run promotional campaigns to boost your reach.

Complete data ownership

Data is one of the most crucial assets for a customer-centric business, allowing for better decision-making and building a competitive edge. There’s a reason why as per research, companies relying on data acquire 23 times more customers and are 6 times likely to retain the customers. Data ownership allows you to control the complete analysis of it to measure your fleet’s performance and understand the user behaviour to enhance your services for a competitive edge.

High cost of development

Developing e-scooter software includes diverse tasks like UI/UX designing, integrating diverse sources, creating customer apps, adding features, in-built inventory and analysis features, testing and debugging, and the list keeps going. When you work with reputable scooter-sharing developers, the cost of development may range anywhere between $25K to $80K, depending on project complexity and customizations. For small business owners or in the early stage of business, managing costs can be challenging.

Code and performance maintenance

If you thought developing software was the end of it, rethink! The software requires regular maintenance to update the system, fix bugs, and enhance the system’s security for long-term and safe use. All of these result in recurring costs that you must spend for error-free services for management and customer satisfaction. Furthermore, scheduling these updates and maintenance can be a tedious job, and there is a high chance that it might skip your mind.

Development is time-consuming

Developing software is easier said than done. Building the necessary features, adding advanced features, and testing and debugging might take months. Therefore, if you are on a time crunch, this option might be suitable for you as the software development process might push back your launch.

Pros and Cons of subscribing to a ready-to-use e-scooter software

An off-the-shelf software is the one that is produced for mass use, aka ready to use by businesses. An E-Scooter Sharing App Development Company, like Squillion Tech, creates efficient software with features for the most basic and advanced tasks. You can subscribe to this software for easier access and easy management. Let’s talk about the pros and cons of subscribing to e-scooter software.

Cost-effective software solution

A subscription is a pocket-friendly option for businesses to implement the software. The subscription allows you to enjoy all the features of the software without the hefty cost of developing it from scratch. Choosing a reputable software provider, like Squillion Tech, enables you to integrate the software with your existing system and fleet to kick-start your business. A common subscription fee ranges between $5 – $10 per vehicle for a month. It allows you to scale your business and the software together.

Low setup time

If time is against your project, a subscription-based scooter software can bring it to your side by streamlining the software implementation in your business. The e-scooter software is ready to use after integrating third-party apps and the scooters using the IoT devices. Once all the integrations are checked, the basic system is set to streamline your operation and your team is trained to use the software. For example, with Squillion Tech’s scooter-sharing software, Eazy Ride, you can have a ready-to-use user app that could be rebranded to fit your business needs. Our team ensures that software works efficiently with your business’s system.

Stress-free maintenance

One of the most important perks of subscribing to a scooter software is the relief from maintenance tasks. The software providers are responsible for updating the system, fixing bugs, and more. So, if you choose a reliable provider, you can be stress-free regarding updating the system and staying ahead of the market trends. Therefore, choose a software provider with industry experience and reliable service, including team training and regular maintenance checks and updates.

Service dependence on third-party

The quality of the service depends on a third party, the software provider. If you face any error, you must contact the developer for assistance and updates. Therefore, it may become time-consuming and tedious. If the third party delays responding or solving the issue, your brand image might take a hit.

Data access

Many software providers limit the data access affecting your analysis and reporting. Therefore, cross-check the services and access permits when choosing the scooter-sharing software providers.

Customization may be limited

The off-the-shelf are created to be used by many. Therefore, only a few customizations could be made to accommodate your business needs. However, providers do not offer customization at all. So, while researching subscription-based e-scooter software, make sure of the level of customization they offer.

Source Code Ownership

When you subscribe to the scooter software, you do not have any access or ownership to the source code. Therefore, you can’t modify or add any features. You will not have any rights to the software and are subject to following the software developers’ T&C. It impacts your service quality and the control of the features.

What are the factors influencing your choice?

We discussed the pros and cons of developing and subscribing a e-scooter software. But how do you decide which one is suitable for you, because both the options have some strong and weak points? Worry not, we are here to help you with some factors that influence your decision. You must answer the following points to make your final call:

Time availability of the project

Time is a scarce resource, especially in a rapidly growing market like scooter sharing for micro-mobility. The giants like Bird, Lime, Spin, and more are reaching out everywhere. However, the market is open to all and with quality service and lucrative offers, you can win customer’s hearts. That’s why you must consider the time frame available to you for establishing your business. Do you have a few months (3-6) to spare to develop software from scratch or do you need to kickstart your scooter rental business with a subscription? Depending on the market trends, your local regulations, and the project’s complexity you need to decide the timeline of the project.

Budget allocation for the software

Budget is one of the primary considerations when making this choice. The scooter rental business requires a hefty initial investment for the fleets, parking system, and software for operations management. Often the budget is limited and needs to your allocated wisely for the best ROI. Therefore, decide what your business needs are and whether developing or subscribing will benefit you. Consider the other costs involved in establishing your business and budget mindfully.

The best e-scooter for excellent user experience is likely to retain users. Therefore, you must spend comparatively more on buying quality scooters for your fleet. However, if you are low on budget, it can be a hindrance in another aspect of business. In such cases, you can start with a subscription and move on to developing the software once you have established your business.

Size of the scooter rental business

The size of the fleet is a crucial consideration. Does it make sense to give a $100 note when you have bought one item from the dollar store costing nearly $2? Likewise, spending thousands of dollars on development is not worth it if you have no less than 200 scooters on the field. So, consider the fleet size and your team as well before making the decision. In case you have a large team and fleet you can develop software for customization and better control.

The degree of customization you need

Do you wish to add a unique feature to your software? If the subscription-based software doesn’t offer a high degree of cusotmizations, you can opt for developing from scratch for a competitive edge.

Eazy Ride by Squillion Tech: Developing or Subscribing, get the best of both worlds!

We know that choosing one is difficult, but we can help you with both options. Squillion Tech is a Scooter Sharing Software company offering subscription-based e-scooter software, Eazy Ride. however, that’s not all we do. If you have diverse customizations or want ownership of the source code, we can develop a software solution for you from scratch. Our team includes skilled developers with knowledge of multiple languages and exposure to diverse industries, especially mobility and automobile.

We have created and improvised Eazy Ride with the help of our core team and insights from our existing customers leading scooter rental businesses across the globe. Following are a few features of our scooter-sharing software:

Customizable user app for your users
Inventory management system for your fleet
Swift payment management
In-built revenue and data management system
Analysis and reporting system
Customer management system
Geofencing to track the fleet
Third-party and advanced IoT integration
Consistent maintenance and support
Training service for your team

Are you ready to kickstart your scooter-sharing business? We are eager to help you speed up the process with Eazy Ride a scooter-sharing software solution by Squillion Tech. Contact Us to learn about the customization, costing, and more!

Conclusion

E-scooter software is the building block of any scooter rental business. You can either develop one from scratch or subscribe to a ready-to-use software that allows minor modifications. However, the choice between the two boils down to the time available to you, your budget, the size of the fleet, and the degree of customization you need in the software. Developing is a good option for those who need more custom features scalable to their needs and complete control of the data. However, if you are short on time to launch your business, have a limited budget, or don’t want to spend hours and hefty dollars on maintenance subscription is the best option. Squillion Tech has both the solution for your: Eazy Ride for subscription and also custom software development services. Let’s get on a call to discuss your project and how we can help you more!

Developing vs. subscribing: the best approach to e-scooter software

Why do you need an e-scooter software?