Mobility budget gives 5,000 professionals freedom of choice

For years EY had a familiar arrangement: a lease car scheme, supplemented by a public transport pass for occasional use. But many younger professionals, often living in the major cities, didn't really want a lease car. "No parking space, but you still pay benefit-in-kind tax," says Marc. Many of them still lived with their parents or in shared accommodation. For them, a lease car mostly meant extra cost, with no alternative on offer that suited their situation better.

Two other developments came together at the same time: the pandemic, which changed travel patterns dramatically, and EY's growing ambition to bring down CO₂ emissions for good. "Our mobility policy no longer fitted the way things had changed," says Marc. "The mobility budget turned out to be the answer to everything we wanted: we decide which transport options we make available, we steer towards zero-emission cars, and we offer much more flexibility."

The mobility budget went live for all professionals in 2023. "Everyone needs to travel in some way, so why make a distinction between who does and doesn't get a mobility budget?" says Marc. Each person's existing entitlement was converted one-to-one into an individual budget.

The mobility budget works as an umbrella: it doesn't replace the lease car, but gives professionals freedom of choice within a single, integrated budget. That budget covers a broad range of travel options: public transport, private car, lease car, shared mobility, lease bicycles and short-term lease. One condition always applies: everything on offer is electric.

"Our professionals are really positive about the mobility budget. Choosing and booking through the app is easy for everyone," says Stijn.

Mobility Concept took on a central role during implementation. Marc looks back on a process that ran remarkably smoothly: everything had been discussed and thought through, with clarity about the approach and every step of the project. Mobility Concept handled the full project management, with clear communication as a constant throughout.

Stijn: "That role has continued, long after go-live. When EY recently switched to a different lease bicycle provider, we ran the move to the new supplier straight through the platform. Mobility Concept takes the lead every time, so we don't have to worry about it."

Marc: "That's where you really see the benefit of an open platform: it doesn't matter which supplier we work with. We ask Mobility Concept to open up the platform and set up an API connection with the new party, and for us everything just carries on. It means we can move quickly when things change or something new comes along."

EY runs the Mobility Concept platform under its own branding: My Daily Travel.

Together, the mobility budget and the mobility platform deliver a great deal. "For us, the real value is that everything is taken care of: one platform, one invoice, automatic reconciliation with budgets and payroll, and no more separate contracts," says Marc. Stijn adds: "It's just as easy for our professionals. They arrange all their mobility through the My Daily Travel app, and they're free to pick whichever mode of transport suits them best at any given moment. The mobility budget also grows with each stage of life, as people's mobility needs change."

"Our goal was never fewer cars, but more flexibility," Marc stresses. "Even so, a change in travel behaviour is exactly what has happened: professionals are choosing public transport or the bike more often, with a positive effect on CO₂ emissions as a result."