Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

New 'Uber for cycle couriers' app launched - would you pick up extra cash with jobs?

App cuts out the middleman for fast reliable deliveries - and keeps cycle couriers happy, says founder

A City analyst who began to cycle to work every day and became fascinated by the world of the cycle courier has invented an app and website that he hopes will become the Uber of the courier world.

With its own fleet of cycle couriers, the founder, James Middleton,  a former hedge fund analyst, still gets on his own bike to meet courier demands - and his wife, an actress, also does it to make extra cash.

However the company says it’s revolutionising the courier industry with its app and website that cuts costs and says that Street Stream is the first digital service to transform the courier industry in the same way Uber shook up the minicab world.

Companies and the public are put in direct contact with cycle, motorbike and van couriers who compete to offer the most competitive prices and the best service.

Couriers quote less for jobs because they are dealing directly with their customer, removing overheads and charges.

Because Street Stream's couriers are rated by customers it is in their interests to be reliable, professional, competitive and polite.

James used his business expertise to analyse the courier business model to identify its strengths and weaknesses, as well as try to solve a sector currently beset by disputes, rancour and low customer - and courier - satisfaction.

James said, 'With the traditional way of booking a courier everyone loses out. Firstly, the customer is paying over the odds to the big courier companies - the middlemen - which pass on their high overheads.

'Then the courier has little incentive to be polite or efficient because they have no real direct relationship with the client. Sadly, many couriers today are not happy with their wages and have no job security and few employment rights because they’re usually freelancers rather employees.

“Add to that the fact that most bike, van or motorbike couriers have to hire walkie-talkies, uniforms and handsets to get work and it is easy to see why couriers are lacking motivation.

'Put simply, the customer is overcharged and the courier is underpaid. The courier companies exploit the fact that the customer and courier can't get in touch directly. This is where Street Stream steps in. Customers book the couriers directly through the website. Radios are replaced with the app and the courier company controller is no longer needed.

'With Street Stream the customers and couriers are in control. The courier decides what jobs he or she wants to bid for and the customer chooses the courier they want. They might choose the closest - something the website shows - or the cheapest, or the best rated.'

Customers enter details on the website of the package they want picked up from where and delivered to what address by what time, as well as any other essential information. The couriers, all fully vetted by Street Stream, are alerted of the job request on their app and log their quote. Then it is up to the customer to choose.

Once the quote has been accepted, telephone numbers are swapped and the customer is kept up to date about the delivery at every stage. When the item is delivered the time and recipient's name is logged on the mobile app and the customer alerted.

Secure payment by card is held for two days to ensure everyone is happy. Then the customer can rate the courier.

Street Stream automatically insures all deliveries up to the value of £100, but additional cover up to the sum of £5,000 is available (£1 extra covers goods up to £1,000, £2 insures £2,000 and so on up to £5 for £5,000).

James has seen how the couriers have been motivated by the desire to work hard to please their client to get a good reputation to get more work, rather be ordered around by the courier company controller. Meanwhile, the customers like the fact they get a choice of courier and are impressed with the improved prices and service.

While there have been unusual requests for deliveries, such as couples wanting cooking ingredients or wines biked to their homes for a dinner party, traditional clients include film companies, fashion PRs and high-end stylists, food and drink traders and photographic agents.

When booking a delivery customers can make a donation to the London Courier Emergency Fund, an organisation supporting cycle couriers who suffer injuries in their work.

 

Add new comment

13 comments

Avatar
Matt eaton | 8 years ago
1 like

I'm not convinced by this idea.

As a courier would you really want to have to provide a quote for every single delivery in the hope of winning the business? It's not like providing a quote as a builder where the reward would be a job worth hundreds or thousands of pounds.

The same applies for regular customers who I would expect to prefer an ongoing relationship with a reliable courier firm with competitive prices than to have to gather quotes for every delivery they require.

Compared to the traditional model it kinda seems like a ball ache for everyone involved but maybe the same could be said for Uber.

Avatar
bikebot replied to Matt eaton | 8 years ago
0 likes

Matt eaton wrote:

I'm not convinced by this idea. As a courier would you really want to have to provide a quote for every single delivery in the hope of winning the business? It's not like providing a quote as a builder where the reward would be a job worth hundreds or thousands of pounds. The same applies for regular customers who I would expect to prefer an ongoing relationship with a reliable courier firm with competitive prices than to have to gather quotes for every delivery they require. Compared to the traditional model it kinda seems like a ball ache for everyone involved but maybe the same could be said for Uber.

I actually think there's some potential. Established firms who use couriers a lot will stick to their established companies, but that's actually quite a small number. London is stuffed with small startups that would only use such a service occasionally.  

I've been in that situation myself several times, and what usually happens is you end up sending a member of your own staff.

Avatar
bikebot | 8 years ago
1 like

As someone who works for themselves, I'd actually consider signing up for this if it paid well enough to be useful as a filler between my main work.  However the app is currently iPhone only, and they'll need to address that as I doubt anyone will switch phones for them.

Avatar
kie7077 | 8 years ago
1 like

<blockquote>Sadly, many couriers today are not happy with their wages and have no job security and few employment rights because they're usually freelancers rather employees.</blockquote>

So, no change there then.

Honestly this sounds like total crap for couriers, as a courier you:

:don't want particular customers - you want regular customers

:don't want variable prices

:don't want people choosing someone further away based on price because that means all couriers have to travel further for less = more time per trip and doubly less money.

Even Uber isn't this crap afaik. The customer/provider balance is completely warped against the provider.

Avatar
kie7077 | 8 years ago
1 like

Quote:

Then the courier has little incentive to be polite or efficient because they have no real direct relationship with the client.

 

Incorrect, a rude courier wouldn't last long with a courier company.

Avatar
brooksby replied to kie7077 | 8 years ago
0 likes

kie7077 wrote:

Quote:

Then the courier has little incentive to be polite or efficient because they have no real direct relationship with the client.

 

Incorrect, a rude courier wouldn't last long with a courier company.

 

Doesn't that hold true for any employee? If you're a rude so'n'so you get called on it...   Generally it's the self-employed who can be ruder because they have no boss to call them on bad behaviour.

 

that said, not sure how this helps couriers - does a courier want regular face-to-face contact with the same customer or would they just prefer more regular work, with Mr Anonymous, but paying more money?

 

 

Avatar
JudahLow | 8 years ago
1 like

This is pretty cool. Can any old fucker with a bicycle sign up as a courier then? I'd definitely be tempted for those evenings when I'm bored and fancy a cycle but can't be arsed to come up with a route

Avatar
KiwiMike replied to JudahLow | 8 years ago
0 likes

JudahLow wrote:

This is pretty cool. Can any old fucker with a bicycle sign up as a courier then? I'd definitely be tempted for those evenings when I'm bored and fancy a cycle but can't be arsed to come up with a route

...meanwhile, a courier with kids to feed...

Avatar
JudahLow replied to KiwiMike | 8 years ago
1 like

KiwiMike wrote:

JudahLow wrote:

This is pretty cool. Can any old fucker with a bicycle sign up as a courier then? I'd definitely be tempted for those evenings when I'm bored and fancy a cycle but can't be arsed to come up with a route

...meanwhile, a courier with kids to feed...

 

Yeah good point. But that's the problem with apps like this I guess, regardless of what they are specifically doing.

Thankfully I've no idea how much couriers charge so probably won't be arsed setting up an account

Avatar
cdamian | 8 years ago
0 likes

There is also Uber Rush, which was launched last year, but seems to have finally started now: http://www.businessinsider.com/uber-rush-fedex-killer-released-2015-10

Avatar
KiwiMike | 8 years ago
0 likes

What is much more interesting is their 'sister app' Kerbi: http://www.kerbi.uk - dial-a-puncture-repair. I can see that getting a lot of use, maybe up to £10 a go? If you have a flat and your only options are walking, calling a spouse or locking up a pricey bike, £10 would be fab value. 

Avatar
KiwiMike | 8 years ago
2 likes

I'm all for newer, smarter business models but I think calling this 'Uber for cycle couriers' is wrong. Uber explicitly remain in the middle between customer and vendor, taking a large arbitrary and unilaterally-allocated slice whilst refusing to take any responsibility for driver actions. 

Plus Uber is run by a bunch of misogynistic reptilian neoliberal automatons hell-bent on removing all controls established over decades to protect the public and employees alike from rapacious business malpractice. 

Avatar
mike the bike replied to KiwiMike | 8 years ago
2 likes

[quote=KiwiMike)

....... Plus Uber is run by a bunch of misogynistic reptilian neoliberal automatons hell-bent on removing all controls established over decades to protect the public and employees alike from rapacious business malpractice. [/quote]

 

You need to get off the fence KiwiMike, and tell it like it is!

Latest Comments