A Devon-based green-tech firm which produces a "fitbit for cars and vans” has appointed top industry professional Paul Hollick as its new managing director.
Mr Hollick is chairman of The Association of Fleet Professionals and a former managing director of fleet electrification firm Miles Consultancy Ltd and arrives at Exeter-based Lightfoot just weeks after experienced tech finance expert Neil Warman joined as chief financial officer.
The trail-blazing, in-cab, driver fleet coaching technology and rewards platform is on the road to growth after receiving financial backing from specialist mid-market investor Volpi Capital in 2021.
The cash injection is enabling the rapid development of a suite of new products and services that will be made available to ICE (internal combustion engine) and EV (electric vehicle) fleets domestically and internationally.Mr Hollick said: “Volpi Capital’s investment in Lightfoot is a game changer. It provides the business with a level of investment that enables us to take our market-leading driver engagement technology to new heights.”
Lightfoot’s dashboard-mounted tech connects directly to the vehicle’s on-board computer and converts data into live driving advice that helps a company’s drivers do their job more safely and efficiently.
Lightfoot can help fleets achieve a reduction in accidents while cutting fuel and CO2 emissions by 15% each. This is achieved by rewarding drivers with prizes and giveaways through an app on their smartphones.
Since the rollout began in February 2021, drivers have already claimed rewards including an Amazon Echo Dot and a mini drone, as well as cash prizes totalling more than £13,000.
Mr Hollick said: “We’re focused on a future where the driver sits at the heart of transforming the way vehicles are driven, where the emphasis is on getting the most from employees through behavioural telematics, rather than focusing solely on the asset that they drive.
“We achieve this by giving drivers a reason to change the way they drive for the better. By winning hearts and minds through gamification, league tables and prizes, Lightfoot is transforming hard-baked driver habits using reward, rather than after-the-event reprimand, to effect positive change.”
Rupert Lyon Taylor, chief executive at Lightfoot, said: “Paul is an industry heavy hitter, an influential voice in the sector. His experience, expertise and connections with senior decision makers will not only accelerate our ambitious growth plans but will also help us to put the decarbonisation of fleets further up the corporate agenda.”
Earlier in March 2021, Mr Warman arrived at Lightfoot having previously held positions as chief finance officer at the UK’s largest electronic ticket machine supplier, Ticketer, and at loan management software provider Nostrum Group.
His Software as a Service (SaaS) experience, wedded to his business consulting expertise from his time at accounting giant Arthur Andersen, is seen as key to realising Lightfoot’s future development as a SaaS business, widening its offer to fleets in the UK and beyond.
Recognised for its disruptive, driver first approach, which reduces workloads for fleet managers, Lightfoot has ambitious growth plans. These include targeting the UK’s largest fleets, building on its success with major players including Asda and Tesco, and expanding internationally
Operations are already under way for customers in Germany, and Lightfoot plans to roll out its real-time, in-cab driver coaching and rewards platform to the EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) markets, before planning further international expansion.
Mr Hollick stressed Lightfoot is EV-ready on multiple levels and added: “Lightfoot ICE drivers come ready-conditioned for EVs because our technology encourages smoother, less aggressive driving, and that gives fleet managers greater certainty of range reliability, aiding accurate routing and delivery schedules.“
On top of that our rewards platform incentivises good home-charging habits, helping to keep costs down, while also avoiding unproductive work-hour charging, which is a major headache for many operators. Most importantly, we enable fleets to accurately reimburse employees at their domestic electricity rate, which no other provider can do. That’s the beauty of our behaviour-led, advanced telemetry EV solution.”
As for the immediate future, Lightfoot is centred on helping fleets cut their existing fuel bills and emissions and Mr Hollick said: “Right now, fleets are feeling the intense pressure of rapid fuel price rises at the pump due to global events. “Squeezing every mile out of every vehicle has never been more important, and that’s exactly what our technology enables. More than that, it also delivers the decarbonising of fleets right now. This is critical as the unavoidable truth is that the transition to EV will take years, but positive change through reduced carbon emissions needs to happen today. This is where Lightfoot delivers, making us the sustainable partner for fleets looking to reduce their overall CO2 , both now and in the future.”
