A veteran in the engineering segment with close to two decades of experience, Markish has been a techno-functional executive for over 15 years. His rich and dynamic profile indicates the value he brings to the table. He has previously worked with Goibibo and Makemytrip as the Senior Director of Engineering where he led the supply-side engineering and product initiatives. An entrepreneur himself, Markish co-founded Magicrooms.in, a real-time inventory distribution engine for hotels in India, which he sold to Yatra.com in 2011. He also co-founded Koruko.com in 2013, an IoT-based retail engagement platform, which was later pivoted as Trip38.com. With a B.Tech in Information Technology from Anna University, Markish is extremely passionate about start-ups and technology and is always looking to solve real-life business problems at scale with the help of innovative technology.
The pandemic has indubitably taken a heavy toll on businesses across verticals and the automobile industry is amongst the worst-hit. A highly lucrative sector before the outbreak, India’s shared mobility market was one of the fastest-growing. Today, as the world adapts to the ‘new normal’, and businesses gradually get back on their feet, the shared mobility industry is also beginning to revive itself. Spearheading this is Zoomcar, a truly digital company in every sense of the word. A shared mobility provider that has an entirely automated customer trip cycle, Zoomcar has almost entirely automated its services to be in sync with the new world order.
With an app-based booking service which entails the concept of a Keyless entry system (KLE), Zoomcar had already begun contactless services, long before the onset of the pandemic. To gain better insights into how the brand is staying ahead even amidst the crisis, let us delve deeper into how Zoomcar is leveraging cutting-edge technology to transform the rental car industry.
Subscription model: For the short-term and long-term
Zoomcar is a status quo-conscious service provider that takes stock of current situations and tweaks its tech-driven service accordingly. For instance, let’s consider the ongoing pandemic that frowns on physical human interaction due to the threat of quick transmission. To simplify the process of availing a mode of transportation and make it hassle-free and safe, Zoomcar offers contactless delivery accordingly. To that end, the frontrunning brand provides cars on demand for personal emergencies. Tying up with essential service providers such as hospitals and grocery delivery platforms, Zoomcar is committed to serving the mobility needs of the community at large.
In the meantime, with the objective of optimized customer service, Zoomcar introduced a highly flexible subscription model that allows the user to opt for a subscription plan that ranges any time between 1-36 months. This facelift has proven to be immensely beneficial in times of need when users faced medical emergencies that called for swift and safe car deliveries in the light of social distancing norms. Thanks to Zoomcar’s deep-rooted technological expertise and automation-driven working models, the brand has managed to flourish amid a global crisis whilst extending its services to customers.
When it comes to the long-term vision, there are several factors in play that make the subscription model the future. For instance, factors such as privacy, flexibility, convenience, and optimum safety are age-old concerns that will continue to prevail in a consumer’s mind down the line, long after the pandemic has passed. Additionally, the cost will also be a concern for customers and Zoomcar has become a one-stop destination that addresses all the pain points of customers. As subscription models are a service where the customers pay a nominal recurring fee for the right to use a vehicle, it is gaining enormous traction with an audience that desires hassle-free car ownership.
It is well-known that the traditional car ownership subjects owners to a myriad of challenges including limited parking space, volatile fuel prices, maintenance cost, and high insurance premiums. This is where subscription models enter the scene disrupting the automotive industry. As things stand, subscription models are becoming increasingly popular with the millennial population who look for a frictionless experience. After all, the tech-driven subscription model cars come with cutting-edge technologies that include ML, AI, and RPA, that keep vehicles safe for use, offering best-in-class user experiences.
Safety takes precedence
Zoomcar has curated its delivery policies to suit the current times, and optimum safety is at the core of it. Providing real-time updates of sanitization of vehicles at the time of booking, the frontrunning shared mobility brand is ensuring that all cars are thoroughly sanitized. Right from the steering wheel, gear, and door handles, the company is leaving no stone unturned to ensure a comfortable experience without compromising on safety. Furthermore, a mandatory education program on safety protocols is conducted for all employees who brave the situation on the ground in their endeavour to provide an impeccable customer experience.
The choice of transportation and mobility among people has undergone a rapid evolution, and it can partly be attributed to the sudden, devastating pandemic. In the pre-COVID era, for people who didn’t own a vehicle, it was the day’s order to travel via public transportation. However, the changing times call for a reshuffle in people’s mobility choices as public transport is no longer an option due to the pandemic.
This situation paves the way for rental players such as Zoomcar to play a role in helping and giving people mobility solutions. As such, the technology-driven subscription model emerges as the answer to people with mobility challenges. And Zoomcar has wasted no time leveraging the same and become a force to be reckoned with in the rental car market.