Start-ups are often associated with technological innovation, but innovation can also be found in service. This is the case of start-ups that have been investing in the travel industry for a number of years by tackling a recurring problem: the luggage. What should you do with them between flights? How can I avoid dragging them everywhere before handing them over to the hotel receptionist?
Entrepreneurs have looked into the problem and come up with solutions. Among these start-ups specialising in concierge services, there are two main families. The first is presented as an alternative to gradual disappearance of automatic lockers in stations and airport terminals.
The best-known representative of this family is called NannyBag. Launched more than two years ago, this start-up offers to drop off luggage at a vast network of partners, including hotels and local shops of all kinds, bike hire companies, clothes shops, souvenir shops and local produce shops.
Retailers can monetise their back-office operations and create traffic that can generate additional sales. All travellers have to do is enter their location, drop-off and collection dates and times online, then select the nearest 'nanny' on the map. Visit pricing is simple: 6 euros per baggage item for 24 hours, then 4 euros per additional day.
With a network of 1,300 partners in 150 towns and around 15 countries, NannyBag has already looked after between 200,000 and 250,000 suitcases since it was set up. London is its main destination after Paris. The start-up has partnerships with AccorHotels, Louvre Hotels or HOP! Air France. It is also in discussions with the Mail Boxes Etc. (printing, parcel delivery, etc.) - which could give it a wide range of hours - and with Carlson Wagonlit. A specific insurance negotiated with Axa, covers theft, loss or breakage up to €1,500 per item of luggage.
Riding the bleisure wave
While NannyBag's core target audience is now made up of fans ofAirbnb (40 % of its customer base), it wishes to develop the population of business travellers (15 %). Its CEO and co-founder, Matthieu Ballesterintends to follow the trend of "bleisurea word that combines business and leisure: " Most of the time, the professional wants to extend his or her stay as an individual. Their business meeting ends at 4pm, but their plane doesn't leave until 11pm. In the meantime, they want to make the most of their free time. More generally, our aim is to relieve business travellers of their baggage before check-in and after check-out. "
Nannybag is working on a BtoB offer for travel managers who manage a fleet of sales representatives and business engineers. Matthieu Ballester cites Axa, Accenture and KPMG as examples of companies likely to be interested. NannyBag is considering a subscription-based package of services. It would also provide companies with a dedicated white-label platform for travel managers or employees themselves. NannyBag is looking for a test company to test the concept and then duplicate it.
Business customers also mean tailor-made services. All lockers already offer wifi and toilets, and hotels offer free access to their lounges. Business travellers could also be offered the possibility of taking a free car. shower.
NannyBag is not the only start-up in the deposit niche. Holibag and Bagbnb are also supported by a network of retailers and At The Corner on partner hotels. On its side, City-Locker has opted for automated lockers that are accessible seven days a week.
A concierge at the airport exit
The other large family of start-ups goes one step further by providing, in addition to the deposit, the luggage transfer to the Airbnb hotel or flat. The leader is EelwayEelway, which raised €1.6 million last April, mainly from Bpifrance. Eelway is breaking new ground in France with this luggage transfer concept, which is already popular in Asia, and more particularly in the United States. Japan. Incubated in Welcome City Lab by Paris&Co, the start-up has already transported 50,000 pieces of luggage since its creation in March 2016. After opening its doors in Paris and Lyon, the company intends to rapidly expand its coverage. some fifteen towns in France before expanding internationally in 2019/2020. Prices start at ten euros for storage and around thirty euros for a transfer.
For Eelway, the aim is to respond to the problem of travellers stuck with their luggage on departure and arrival days. The company does not handle the logistics itself, but subcontracts out to around fifty delivery drivers, who are either delivery professionals or self-employed caretakers. All baggage is sealed with a unique number, covered with a insurance (up to €1,000).
For its CEO and co-founder Fabien Cœur-Uni, " Eelway is first and foremost a technology platform that coordinates service providers. ". A platform that can also be grafted onto carriers' information systems to keep them informed of delays and industrial action. With the funds raised, Eelway intends to develop a whole range of services for the transport industry. services beyond the locker and transfer services. It already offers luggage delivery abroad and collects suitcases directly from conveyor belts in Paris and soon Lyon airports. The start-up is also testinghome luggage check-in.
Following in the footsteps of NannyBag, Eelway, which has already attracted a BtoC audience, now wants to focus on the business travellers. " The aim is to remove some of the stress and fear of the unexpected by creating a climate of trust. "says Fabien Cœur-Uni. To achieve this, he plans to make his baggage tracking tool available to hotels, tour operators, business travel agencies (TMCs) and then key accounts. Eelway has already formed partnerships with SNCF for international TGV services and with the AccorHotels.
There are fewer players in this transfer niche. There are regional providers such as Deliverbag in Bordeaux and the Gironde department. Bagengo and Navibag, launched a few years ago, seem to have disappeared from the radar.
