Service Norway Move & Travel
picture on top: Nimber
Nimber is a community delivery service where you can send anything, anytime, anywhere with trusted people going that way anyway. We create a more convenient, cost-effective, sustainable, and friendly delivery community than anything else in the world.
What is the mission of the project?
Utilising spare capacity on the road.
Where and when did the project start?
It all started in 2012, on a ski trip here in Norway. A car from the Norwegian Postal service had driven out of the road and parcels were scattered all over the place. The idea around Nimber was hatched – what if the cars going the same direction as the parcels could carry these items to the recipients? Now we just had to identify the spare capacity in these cars. Nimber was then launched. A delivery platform where one utilises spare capacity in cars already on the road, using the local community, commuters and whoever is on the road.
In March 2020, Nimber launched a simple and intuitive business solution which provides businesses with fixed lead times, as well as financial predictability in that all prices are presented before an order.
Where is the service offered today?
Today we are only offering our services in Norway. But we want to expand quite fast to the Nordic countries.
To whom is this service aimed?
The traditional Nimber solution is meant for everyone. It solves a need in the market to carry larger goods between private people and smaller business. Regarding the business solution our focal point is the SMB segment (small and medium-sized businesses). We have specialised ourselves on goods that do not fit into a traditional terminal structure. When that is said we also have an offering that should fulfil everyone’s needs, and the SMB businesses with ordinary parcels and goods. One could call the business solution as a «one stop shop» for logistical needs.
picture: Nimber
What do you consider to be the most innovative aspects of your offer?
One of the most innovative aspects of our offering is that by utilising the cars already on the road, we are able to reduce the footprint of the goods we are carrying. In the more urban areas we also reduce congestion since the cars are already going that way anyway. From a technology point of view we have solutions and apps for those who order and for those who drive, our bringers. This is our own code, which means that we are very flexible in regards of developing the applications so we always have a solution that is relevant and satisfies our customers and bringers. Furthermore, we use AI for matching and pricing.
What are the most important impacts of your service in terms of sustainability?
That it actually doesn’t have any bad impact – instead it acts for collaboration with the city centre.
Which aspects are particularly interesting from a design perspective?
Nimber reduces CO2 emissions and waste by using spare capacity that is on the road anyway.
By using cars already on the road one can reduce the impact on the environment.
With personal delivery the need for paper, plastic or cardboard wrapping is often eliminated totally.
By prioritising and awarding bringers with electric cars, we reduce the carbon footprint.
Nimber (originally Easybring) was launched in 2012.
Do you also offer the service digitally?
What’s interesting about our design is that it allows a lot of flexibility when arranging delivery (on peer-to-peer).
You can chat with your bringer directly, arrange a delivery time that suits you best and have an open communication with them in case something doesn’t go according to plan.
For our bringers (drivers) they have a map with assignments all over Norway, so it’s a great tool for them to expand their business but also, with the bringer app, they have the possibility to organise their tasks in a very easy way and perform deliveries from within the app.
For our b2b (business platform) it’s just the convenience of it. You have a “one stop shop” that matches your delivery needs with the best and most reliable courier partners. Prices up front with lead time.
What are some interesting numbers about the project?
Autumn 2020:
Nimber has grown and we have now become the number one choice for over 100,000 businesses, dealers, and private people when it comes to deliveries and transport.
What happens next? What are your goals?
The Nordic countries have similar consumer behaviour and geographic similarities. Our business platform is built to scale with customers and partners that look at the Nordics as one market. With the expansion of the Crowd Delivery Platform and with Nordic partners, the business platform is set to be launched in the Nordic market.
picture: Nimber