A new era for corporate mobility
For decades, the daily commute has been treated as an individual’s concern. However, corporate mobility solutions are becoming increasingly important as climate urgency and economic pressures transform how businesses view employee travel. Transport is the largest carbon-emitting sector and has yet to show a clear decline in emissions. At the same time, many workers are returning to the office amid a cost-of-living squeeze, prompting a surge in demand for cheaper, greener ways to get to work.
According to the Commuter Census® by Mobilityways, fewer than half of UK commuters now drive alone; 38% still travel by petrol or diesel car alone (under 45% including hybrids and EVs) – a record low share. 17% of those who drove to work two years ago have since switched to more sustainable modes. Commuters are voting with their feet (and pedals), embracing alternatives from car-sharing to public transport. The message is clear: the corporate commute is becoming everyone’s business, and companies that ignore it do so at their peril.
This shift is driven by converging factors. Environmentally, organisations face mounting pressure to slash carbon footprints in line with global net-zero targets. In sectors like healthcare, mandates are already in place. NHS England, for instance, has pledged that by 2045 all staff commuting (and patient travel) will be zero-emission. Financially, the rising cost of driving (now averaging over £5,000 per year per person in the UK) is hitting employees’ wallets hard. Especially younger people are responding by not even getting a drivers license and using alternatives like buses and ebikes to save money. Those who share rides by carpooling save over £1,000 annually on average – a compelling incentive.
Finally, employee expectations are evolving. Today’s workforce is highly educated on sustainability issues and increasingly judges employers by their climate and community impact. Long, stressful commutes in single-occupancy cars undermine both well-being and companies’ broader ESG goals. It’s no surprise that many employees say they want more help from their employers to commute sustainably, putting the onus on organisations to make greener commuting easy and attractive. In sum, the stage is set for a transformation in corporate mobility – one that savvy organisations are already beginning to lead.
From obligation to Opportunity: The corporate mobility mandate
Forward-thinking companies now recognise that managing how people get to work is part of their core business strategy. Commuting may fall under “Scope 3” emissions in greenhouse gas accounting, but it is quickly moving to the forefront of corporate sustainability plans.
The reasons go beyond compliance. Investing in smarter mobility yields multifaceted benefits: it helps meet carbon reduction targets, reduces traffic congestion, improves employee health, and enhances the employer brand. In short, making commutes more sustainable is an opportunity to create value.
Regulators and governments are starting to push in this direction as well. Several countries have introduced policies to force the issue. In Italy, for example, private companies and public administrations with local units of more than 100 employees (in certain municipalities) are required by law to adopt and update a home-work travel plan, appoint a mobility manager, and implement measures to reduce private car commuting and foster sustainable mobility. In Belgium, starting January 1, 2026, employers that provide company cars will be required to also offer a mobility budget scheme, allowing employees the option to exchange their car benefit for a mobility budget: a flexible allowance to be used on public transport, cycling, shared mobility or other greener options.
These moves signal a broader policy trend: corporate mobility management is becoming an expected norm. Rather than providing parking spots and company cars alone, employers will be expected to facilitate low-carbon travel choices. Companies that adapt early will reap reputational gains, while laggards risk non-compliance and a disconnect with modern workforce values.
Crucially, what might seem like a daunting obligation can become a source of competitive advantage. By proactively tackling commuting emissions and inefficiencies, organisations can cut costs and boost productivity. Consider that the typical car sits idle 95% of the time, including many company cars and fleet vehicles. That represents wasted capital and space. A single parking spot, often provided for each employee vehicle, generates no value during all those idle hours. By contrast, empowering employees to use public and shared transport can reduce the need for parking infrastructure and even allow costly real estate to be repurposed.
Some companies are swapping rows of parked cars for additional office space or amenities, as fewer employees feel the need to drive. Meanwhile, replacing a company fleet with mobility allowances can save money on maintenance and depreciation. The “drive alone” commuting model is rife with inefficiency. Cutting back on it isn’t just good for the planet – it can strengthen the bottom line.
Employees are ready. Is your business?
Another reason to lean into sustainable commuting is the surprisingly high willingness of employees to change behaviour, if given viable options. Far from clinging to their steering wheels, today’s commuters show an openness that would have been unthinkable a decade ago.
In a recent UK survey, 55 % of commuters said they would consider car sharing (including EV sharing) as an alternative to driving alone, though only about 12 % currently use it. While bus travel was also an option cited by some respondents, it appears much less frequently in the list of considered alternatives, indicating that public transport still faces higher barriers (in convenience, availability or perception) compared to shared car-based modes.
These figures underscore a pivotal point: the barrier to change is not so much desire as it is convenience and information. Many commuters simply need to know what their options are and trust that those options will be reliable, safe, and cost-effective. This is where employers can make all the difference.
Employees are effectively asking their companies to help “bridge the gap” between intent and action. More than half have explicitly said they want their employer’s help to commute more sustainably. That help can take many forms: from financial incentives, to better information, to enabling infrastructure. But the end goal is the same: make the sustainable choice the easy choice.
Companies that step up will be rewarded with a more energised, less stressed workforce. Studies have linked long, congested commutes to lower job satisfaction and higher turnover. Conversely, when employees have convenient alternatives like a shuttle, carpool or flexible work-from-home days, absenteeism drops and morale rises. Supporting new commute options also demonstrates empathy for employees’ daily lives, which fosters goodwill and loyalty.
In a tight labour market, offering smart mobility benefits can even be a recruiting tool, especially for younger hires who may not own cars at all. The workforce is primed for change: cost-conscious, environmentally aware and looking for viable alternatives. Employers that meet them halfway will lead the transition.
Data-driven insights: Understanding your mobility landscape
Any successful change starts with understanding the status quo. For corporate mobility, that means gathering data on how your people currently travel and where the pain points lie.
This is where a data-driven approach becomes invaluable. New digital tools can give employers a 360º view of their commuting footprint. For instance, large organisations are using employee surveys and location data to map out the “commuter landscape”, how many people live near a train line, who could potentially bike or carpool and which sites have the highest emissions per commuter.
With just a few inputs (such as employees’ home postcodes and typical travel modes), these tools can calculate the average carbon output per employee’s commute and highlight which routes contribute the most CO₂. This allows companies to identify the most impactful opportunities for change.
Benchmarking is crucial: by establishing your current commuter emissions baseline, you can set realistic targets (for example, reduce average commute CO₂ by 50% in three years) and track progress over time.
But data-driven mobility management goes beyond carbon metrics. Companies are also measuring commuting satisfaction and convenience. Survey feedback or app data can reveal, for instance, that a lack of last-mile transport from the train station is what stops more people from taking the train. Or that many employees would bike if secure storage and showers were available on-site.
All these insights inform smarter investments, whether it’s subsidising bike-share memberships, adding a shuttle from the station or adjusting work hours to decongest peak travel times. The end goal is to replace guesswork with evidence. “You can’t change what you don’t measure.”
Integrated journey planning: flexible mobility for employees
Data insights highlight what needs to change; the next step is providing the means to change it. This is where integrated mobility solutions come in.
In essence, integrated mobility for corporate users means giving people a one-stop platform to plan and manage all their travel options, as seamlessly as they would a personal trip planner. Imagine an employee opening a custom mobility app provided by their employer. They instantly see a range of options to get to the office on time: a train plus e-scooter combo, a direct express bus, a carpool pickup from a colleague nearby or driving with parking information.
They can compare the ETA, cost, and even carbon footprint of each option, all in one place. The aim is to relieve congestion and encourage greener travel by making sustainable choices transparent and convenient.
For employers, adopting such platforms can be transformative. A corporate mobility app can be customised to include the specific services and perks you offer: private shuttles, local bike-shares or exclusive travel discounts.
Integrating payments and mobility wallets is a game-changer. Instead of the traditional car allowance or reimbursing mileage, companies can allocate mobility credits through the app. These credits might cover a monthly transport pass, a certain number of ride-hail trips or hours of car-share usage.
Not only does this incentivise new modes, it also yields valuable data on usage patterns. Employers can see which options are popular or where gaps remain, with the option to tie mobility apps into sustainability gamification, awarding points to employees who log low-carbon commutes.
A well-implemented staff mobility solution puts real-time, personalised transport intelligence in every employee’s pocket. When you make it as easy to plan a bus-bike commute as it is to drive, many people happily leave the car at home.
Smarter fleets and shared rides: Doing more with less
If journey planning apps provide the front-end for users, there’s equally exciting innovation happening in the back-end of corporate mobility – particularly for organisations that operate their own vehicles.
Companies and campuses that run shuttles, vans or pool cars are increasingly asking: how can we use these assets more efficiently? Traditionally, a workplace shuttle might run a fixed route on a fixed schedule, half-empty most of the time. Pool cars might sit unused except for the occasional meeting.
AI-driven platforms can now dynamically match vehicle supply with real-time demand, allowing each vehicle to serve multiple purposes throughout the day. For example, the same electric van could do an employee shuttle loop in the morning, be available for self-drive bookings midday, and then run a few on-demand ride-share trips in the afternoon.
Underpinning these improvements is the philosophy of shared, electric mobility. Simply swapping a diesel car for an electric one yields savings, but combining electrification with sharing multiplies the benefits. By moving more people with fewer vehicles, and ensuring those vehicles are zero-emission, organisations can cut carbon in a cost-effective way.
Advanced corporate mobility platforms offer modules for different ride types: “Shuttle”, “Solo ride”, “Drive”, and “Shared ride”. Each can be deployed alone or in combination, ensuring flexible, efficient use of every vehicle.
Over time, a culture of shared transport can emerge in the workplace. Reimagining mobility can have cultural benefits too: breaking down silos, fostering community, and supporting inclusion by providing equitable transport options for those who don’t drive.
Towards a sustainable commute ecosystem
Corporate mobility is evolving from a fringe topic to a central component of business sustainability and talent strategy. We are moving toward a commute ecosystem that is integrated, tech-enabled and user-centric.
In this ecosystem, an employee’s journey to work might involve multiple modes. The difference now is that employers have the tools to help orchestrate these multi-modal journeys, acting as a “mobility broker” for their staff.
By leveraging journey-planning APIs, data analytics and booking integrations, even mid-sized companies can offer a mobility experience once reserved for smart cities.
Every organisation’s needs will differ. A suburban campus might invest more in vanpooling and shuttles; an urban office might focus on transport subsidies and cycling amenities. The beauty of modern mobility solutions is their adaptability.
The end-state is a situation where the sustainable choice is also the default choice. When an employee opens their mobility app, the fastest and easiest options are also the greenest because the system is designed that way.
Being a thought leader in corporate mobility also sends an important message. Companies can demonstrate concretely how they are contributing to climate goals and healthier communities. It’s one thing to announce a net-zero pledge; it’s another to show that your average employee commute now emits 40% less CO₂ than it did five years ago.
As more organisations embrace these practices, shared mobility services become more viable and widespread, creating a virtuous cycle that benefits all.
We are at an inflection point: Is the era of the single-occupant, combustion-engine commute ending? Perhaps not overnight, but it’s slowly fading. In its place, a model built on choice, connectivity and responsibility is emerging.
By harnessing technology and thoughtful policy, the “corporate commute” can evolve from a headache into an asset. Mobility is ultimately about connecting people – to workplaces, services, and each other. By making those connections smarter and cleaner, businesses improve the daily lives of their employees and the health of their communities.
Conclusion: Get in touch to get moving
The journey to zero-carbon, efficient commuting is challenging but profoundly rewarding. It requires vision, collaboration and the right technological tools.
The good news is that the tools are here, and the benefits are real: from cost savings and carbon cuts to happier, healthier employees. Companies that act decisively will not only keep pace with regulations and social expectations; they will build a workplace culture that truly walks the talk on innovation and sustainability.
Is your organisation ready to transform its mobility footprint? Whether you aim to implement a multi-modal journey planner, optimise a fleet of electric shuttles, or simply understand where to start, expert guidance can accelerate your progress.
SkedGo has over a decade of experience delivering advanced journey planning and Mobility-as-a-Service solutions across the globe. We specialise in tailoring mobility platforms to the unique needs of corporates, campuses, and cities – integrating everything from public transit data to booking and payment systems into one user-friendly solution.
Ready to make the commute your next success story? Get in touch with us to discuss how we can help you craft a smarter, greener, and more user-friendly mobility offering for your organisation. Together, let’s turn the daily commute from a source of frustration into a showcase of innovation and sustainability.
References and Further Reading
- Pressat (2024). “Fewer Than 40% of UK Commuters Are Driving Alone, Commuter Census® 2024 Reveals.” (Mobilityways annual commuter survey results).
- Tech.eu (2025). “Flock Mobility raises £1M to expand shared EV ride platform.”
- MaaS Alliance (2025). “White Paper: Corporate Mobility-as-a-Service (CMaaS).”
- Fleet News (2024). “How NHS England is planning to decarbonise its transport and travel.”
- U.S. EPA (2023). “Carbon Pollution from Transportation.”
- KPMG Belgium (2025). “5 practical tips for implementing the mobility budget.”
- SkedGo – Client Case Studies (journey-planning and mobility integrations for employers and cities).