Beam’s ‘Operation Booster’ brings customers

Electric scooter operator Beam has launched ‘Operation Booster’ to bring riders to Christchurch shops, restaurants and cafes.

The project ensures that thousands of Beam riders daily have access to discounts and benefits from a variety of Christchurch small businesses as they strive to reinvigorate the local economy.

Beam has configured its mobile application to create virtual parking locations across the city, outside establishments that sign up to the initiative.

All parking spots will be created following the guidelines for parking established by the Christchurch City Council.

Beam’s research indicates that riders parking near retail outlets increases the natural footfall and revenue for those businesses.

By ensuring many more riders start and end their trips outside retail locations, Beam says it will be directly stimulating economic activity at the community level.

Beam will also promote for free the establishments in their app, showing details and promotions on the scooter map.

The system will also use GPS-triggered messaging that allows the retailers to create promotional messages in the app for any rider ending a trip nearby.

Beam’s research shows that 40% of regular Beam riders in Christchurch already used Beams to visit shops and restaurants before the COVID-19 lockdown, so Beam is estimating this will drive an additional 50,000 customer visits to Christchurch businesses during the next six months.

“We are part of this community – through both good and challenging times – and we want to do all we can to ensure that businesses impacted by COVID-19 could get a real boost as conditions move back to normal, Beam operations manager Frederick Conquer says.

“By guiding riders to locations in order to support local business we are fostering that sense of togetherness and mutual support across the community,” he adds.

“During lockdown we had a fantastic response to our free scooter offer for restaurants that supported their delivery needs. Following the lifting of lockdown our focus turns to connecting customers with businesses.”

One of the first partners to sign up to Operation Booster is Riverside Market favourite, Aha Wildlife Bakery.

“We love that Beam is getting stuck into helping us bring customers back through our doors. Being able to promote our products and offers directly to their riders in the app is fantastic – it’s like having a free billboard that thousands of people can see,” says Nattiya Krajangpit of Aha Wildlife Bakery.

Visit ridebeam.com/operation-booster to join.