Adding value through in-lease transportation services

Many businesses put substantial effort into ensuring employee welfare and satisfaction in the workplace – and why wouldn’t they? Happy employees improve office morale, perform better at their jobs, take less sick-leave, and are less prone to job-hopping. Most employers however, neglect to consider that transportation is a continuing battle for most employees, and one that contributes greatly to overall satisfaction of the workplace experience.

At JLL, our mission is to add value to our clients’ leases, both financially and through world-class management services. This mandate, in combination with the variety of digital tools available today, has led to our development of in-lease transportation services that benefit all levels of our clients’ organisation.

Partnering with some of the country’s top taxi and ride-sharing providers, we offer clients the option of adding staff transport services to their lease. This allows them to arrange pre-determined routes around their premises, making staff transport more affordable and efficient than ever before.

And as modern businesses begin to realise the advantage of using technology to shape the workplaces of the future, it’s our prediction that tech-based, value-added services like this one will only become more popular among companies of all sizes in the near future.

What’s in it for employers?

Any business owner knows that rent isn’t cheap, particularly in popular business hubs along popular routes. Adding transportation services to a lease agreement means that businesses will need fewer parking spaces (a serious contributor to overall rent prices) and therefore, save on non-essential monthly spending. These services also make it a more practical option to rent premises in a less central location (where rentals are considerably more affordable), without any added inconvenience.

Businesses which make use of such services are at an advantage in more ways than one. The more affordable rentals that can be achieved by moving out of major business hubs usually comes at the price of inconvenience, but by utilising a transportation service, employees have easy access to the best that top business hubs have to offer, without actually working within them. If implemented effectively, these businesses can also reap the rewards in terms of increased staff productivity, decreased instances of lateness or absence due to transport issues, and improved staff morale and satisfaction.

What’s in it for employees?

It’s no secret that getting to and from work is a constant battle for millions of South Africans, but many forget that the inconvenience is not only during the rush-hour commute. Getting around during the work day is another struggle, and one that considerably affects the quality of life for those who need to get to a nearby meeting or run a few quick errands during the day. In-lease transportation models, like the ones implemented by JLL, allow employers to decide on a circuit or perimeter of transport routes around their premises, to help employees get more out of their day without spending even more on transport costs.

Employees who make use of such a service don’t just save money and time on transport – they become more productive. Not being dependant on driving themselves, or on buses and taxis, enables employees to be more productive during their trips – with the option of preparing for meetings or responding to emails while being driven in comfort and safety.

What’s in it for South Africa?

The potential benefits of wide-scale implementation of in-lease transportation solutions are practically limitless – and what is good for businesses and their employees is naturally good for the South African business sector. Cheaper rental means that growing businesses have more cash-flow available to nurture their organisations, develop new products and take on extra staff.

The notoriously congested South African business nodes would benefit from having less cars on the road, reducing traffic and decreasing car-generated pollution. In addition, the improved viability (and attractiveness) of less central business premises stimulates the property economy and contributes to the upliftment and improvement of premises in peripheral areas. Employees have better and cheaper access to public transport hubs, nearby facilities and amenities, allowing them to make better use of every minute of the day to be productive.

The bottom line

Providing employees with a convenient transportation alternative gives businesses a competitive advantage in more ways than one – so it’s no surprise that more and more businesses worldwide are beginning to provide this amenity to their staff. Although offering staff transportation may increase a company’s expenses in the short term, with correct implementation, the benefits and savings outweigh the initial costs very quickly.