ZIP: LEADING THE WAY IN
Zip is one of the longest-serving private hire firms in Bradford and to this day, continues to invest in the very city that paved the way for its success. From sustain-
ability initiatives and grassroots sports sponsorships, right through to driver and passenger wellbeing and safety, the firm makes its heritage the foundation of the way it does business, thus leading the way in corporate social responsi- bility. But how exactly did one small private hire firm grow significantly without jeopardising its commitment to the community and the environment?
DUCKS IN A ROW
Have you heard the saying don’t run before you can walk? Zip believes the same applies to business too. Starting out with only seven drivers and a small base on Tong Street, Bradford, the firm had no immediate plans to scale at large and instead focused on ensuring their internal processes and the very ba- sics of running a private hire firm were perfected. Not only did this set them up for the future, but it allowed them to build a reputation for being a reliable and trustworthy private hire firm. Ken Ives, licensed operator, said: “From the very early days, we knew we wanted to be a trusted firm and that meant getting everything in order behind the scenes. We committed to making our firm a great place for drivers to work, where they were treated fairly and with respect. “At this point, we of course didn’t have the technology we have today, but we had strong processes in place which meant passengers still received an excellent service. Looking back now, we made the right decision to put the foundations in place ahead of growth.”
ACQUISITIONS
The fresh and modern name, Zip, hasn’t always been the firm’s name. In the very early days (1975), Zip was known as Tong & Knapton Taxis and from 1996 to 2011, Tong & Euro Cars. This was mainly due to the service area and location of the drivers. However, as growth continued, the firm rebranded to Euro Cars in 2011 – a move which set them on the path of acquisition. Sufy, Operations Manager, added: “The taxi industry has changed dramatically over the last few decades – and continues to on a yearly basis. Keeping up with the times and remaining competitive for drivers and passengers can be challenging and that’s why we ventured on the route of acquisitions.”
Acquisition Timeline 2013
2014 2015 2016 2016
new career opportunities for aspiring or existing taxi drivers. Sufy said: “As our company grew, we were able to provide great opportunities to existing and aspiring drivers. We gave them the offer of flexibility, allowing them to work from a much larger area and with the added bonus of them choosing the shifts they wanted. Traditionally, companies require drivers to come back to base after each journey to form a queuing system and adhere to a specific shift time, we don’t. Our technology allows us to fairly distribute journey requests meaning drivers can choose their location and be allocated journeys based on where they are and how soon the passenger wants to travel. “Recently, with the rising cost of living, we made the decision to increase our rates to passengers – we were the first in Bradford to raise this to £4 per first mile. This allows our drivers the flexibility to earn more. It was a risk, but one which our passengers responded to well – they recognised the impor- tance of us looking after our drivers.” With growth also came the opportunity to reinvest in the city of Bradford, focusing on young people. Zip became the proud sponsor of East Bierley Cricket Club, and funds were provided to purchase kit and other items. Zip also sponsored a talented football team run from the local pub, the Hand and Shuttle. It doesn’t stop there - Zip also partnered with Bradford PHAB charity Youth Club, providing free journeys for their days out. Ken Ives, director at Zip said: “During lockdown, we partnered with a number of medical organisations to transport emergency healthcare support to local hospitals and supported them with the transferring of blood samples for urgent testing.”
DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
Acquired Jubilee Private Hire Acquired Jet Link in Shipley Acquired Abbey Private Hire Acquired Morley Budget Acquired Town cars
With the acquisition of other firms also came new opportuni- ties for drivers within the area. Not only did Zip increase the number of jobs available to existing drivers, but it also provided
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In 2000, Zip became the first company in Bradford to imple- ment a computerised booking and dispatch system – Autocab, just three years after the technology was first brought to market. This not only revolutionised its operations but had a positive impact on passengers and drivers. Ken added: “We decided to make this investment having read an article in PHTM on the new available technology for private hire firms. Whilst it was an initial investment, it’s definitely paid off. It’s provided our passengers and drivers with a better experience and supported our green movement too.” It was this move that marked the start of their digital transfor- mation, which would later see them move to an almost complete app-based operation. With solid foundations built at the start of their journey, Zip was able to react to changing times by adopting new technologies brought out by Autocab and usually ahead of other competing firms - they became the first in Bradford to offer in-cab credit/debit card payments. Sufy said: “Offering an alternative payment solution to our customers has always been a priority, even before larger multi national companies came into existence. We have been offering various payment solutions ranging from in-app/web payments, right through to in-car payment solutions via physical terminals since 2010. We’ve also introduced automated booking technologies such as TaxiButler, Web Ebooking & IVR which make for easier payment as well as an easier, faster and safer journey. Technology advancements are something we contin- ually incorporate into our services.”
MAY 2022
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