As London Tech Week draws to a close, I have been reflecting on powerful representations of emerging technology in new and existing industries in a world still recovering from the fallout of the pandemic and ongoing conflict in Europe. Like many of us around the world, I am still hesitant in attending events in person and as such joined this year’s Tech Week sessions virtually. Working for a sustainable transport organisation powered by its own innovative technologies, I paid particularly close attention to what has been discussed in the Climate Tech and Future of Work Summits. Both areas play a fundamental role within our own tech-enabled mass transit organisation Zeelo as we seek to provide sustainable shared transport solutions for frontline workers and students across three continents. Bus transport, now more than ever, needs to accommodate a dynamic, modern and increasingly flexible workforce – the large majority of which lives in rural areas with poor commute links to their workplace.
My Takeaways From This Year’s Conference
With the challenges still facing many of us around the world, the importance of adaptation and evolution of current technological and environmental infrastructure has never been more relevant. Finding new and innovative ways to adapt to this brave new world we find ourselves in has become the new reality; though this affords us an exciting opportunity to redevelop and redefine old practices that have yet to catch up with the pace of global development.
We are also seeing that, despite many around the world moving towards more hybrid and flexible models of employment, transport for the regular, daily commute, is still relevant in an age that promotes remote working. In fact, organisations such as Sharing Cities, are devoting considerable resources to addressing the necessary conversation on mobility, with a particular importance placed on the role of shared transport as a tool for decarbonisation across Europe.
Sustainable mobility can and will play a vital role in diminishing the world’s carbon footprint, particularly as a result of strategy and legislation put forward by the Glasgow Climate Pact of 2021. The investments made into EV technology are dominating the transportation sector as the push is made to ensure a transition to electric vehicles by 2030; in fact, Zeelo itself has designed its own pathway to EV bus transport in an effort to ensure this transition follows key milestones across the next few years. Zeelo has pledged to support all our bus operators that have made a commitment to both source and be able to fund the cost of purchasing EVs, and related equipment, for our bus journeys in the UK within this timeframe.
I was also fascinated by the repeated discussions on use of tech to drive greater employee engagement across many of the London Tech Week talks. The future of work is rapidly changing. Recruiting and retaining talent —many of whom are prime targets for rival businesses seeking their skills—the industry’s structure, culture, and processes must continue to adapt. It would seem that salary incentives are no longer enough. If you want to attract and retain talent these days, you may already be reviewing the benefits on offer that will improve the quality of your employees’ lives, focusing on a healthy work-life balance, and championing the importance of mental health awareness and support. When we consider how events like the pandemic have influenced society, all of these concerns become much more pressing. If your organisation is already taking this approach and searching for methods to improve employee wellbeing, Zeelo’s affordable, faster, smarter and greener bus commute service enhanced by tech could be a new, useful, cost-effective and innovative perk you consider adding to your benefits package.
I have thoroughly enjoyed this year’s London Tech Week speaker presentations; particularly sessions from the two summits mentioned above. I shall most certainly be attending in person next year to better explore the opportunities for networking and education that such events afford although, in the meantime, Zeelo will take what has been learned here this week and adopt various insights and strategies in our own continued growth and development in the areas of sustainable technology and meeting the needs of a dynamic new approach to work. Stay tuned for more to come!
Jack, Content Lead @ Zeelo
Want To Know More?
London Tech Week have made several of their keynote speaker presentations available for your viewing. Here are some of the highlights we would recommend:
