Shenzhen-based online bus charter platform, DuduBus announced it received Pre A round financing of RMB12 million (approx: US$1.9 million) from Susino Umbrella and K2 Ventures.
DuduBus offers commute shuttle, shuttle service and daytrip bus rental by matching users’ travel needs with its integrated offline vehicle rental resources.
"Unlike the model of simple carpool information provider platforms, carpooling for buses requires investment in fixed assets for renting the buses, and profitability depends on highly efficient operations," DuduBus’s CEO Yixun Liu said. The company also rearranges bus interiors to maximize usage capacity and is looking into increased potential of various projects with added-value service.
DuduBus not only smart matches big data with user demand to market popular routes but also encourages its users to send in smartphone snapshots of areas with high demand for public transport. DuduBus then follows up on its online community’s daily photo submissions and decides whether or not to open a new bus route after investigation.
Regarding the expansion of his competitor DaDaBus to other cities from Shenzhen, Mr. Liu said: “While the pace of development is an important factor for any company, the quality of service and user experience cannot be ignored. In an era where customer experience reigns supreme, mobile travel companies must pay special attention to the user experience of offline service.”
He said there is always demand for a service if the market is monopolized by one player, but as soon as competitors emerge to offer alternatives, the company will naturally improve its game in every area, from service to value for money.
As for future plans, Mr. Liu said DuduBus will expand its urban commuting service and leverage its existing vehicle and user resources to meet needs of different situations such as shuttles to subway station or other short routes. After it establishes its offline resources, it will also explore the day trip and private charter service segments.
According to its website, DuduBus currently has 45,000 users and passenger load of over 83% on its 200-plus routes in Shenzhen that cover the Shenzhen Science and Technology Park, Che Kung Temple and the Huaqiangbei CBD.(Translation by David)
