Rivers don’t flow in a circle. We all know this. That means when you float, you have to figure out someway of getting your vehicle and trailer from the boat launch to the takeout. This can mean bringing a buddy and another car, but that wastes a lot of gas money and is just a hassle. Hence why so many of us use a shuttle service. Nothing like getting done with a float and having your truck waiting for you.
But booking a shuttle can be a stressful pain in the ass sometimes. Brett Seng has an idea that will make that whole process a lot easier. He calls it ShuttleSnap, an online portal to booking your river shuttle. This web based, mobile friend app is aptly named. While it isn’t a native app on your iPhone or Android (yet), it can be used from your phone or your computer with ease. Brett was kind enough to take some time out of his busy summer schedule and answer some questions about ShuttleSnap. Click here to check out their website.
What is ShuttleSnap?
ShuttleSnap is a web-based, mobile-optimized platform that facilitates the booking process of river shuttles. ShuttleSnap is categorized as a responsive design website, which can be accessed on both desktop and mobile browsers. We have a two-part customer base, the shuttle provider and the user. It works as management and marketing tool for the shuttle provider while serving a convenience for payment via credit card and three-stage confirmation (requested, accepted, completed) to the end-user, recreationists both commercial and non-commercial.
How did the idea for ShuttleSnap come about?
I’ve been guiding for 13 years now, booking my shuttle has always been a process I found to be something of good faith on two parts. The shuttle provider has good faith I’ll be putting X dollar in cash in a hidden location while I was in good faith of them providing me with a service that would accommodate my business at the end of each day. I berthed the idea in the summer of 2014, brainstorming constantly until there was ample time in the Fall to begin my search to find a developer suited to the task of articulating my thoughts. I took on the task of creating a smarter, easier, more convenient way to book our river shuttles.
Why should someone book a shuttle through ShuttleSnap instead of just calling the company directly?
Well, as we know, the process of booking a shuttle via phone call does work, and for the majority of providers out there, it works very well. However, the “good faith” factor still lies as an unknown throughout the day on both parties, along with the growing need of convenient credit card payments. ShuttleSnap was designed to create a confirmation via text notification and email, as well as to keep the shuttle providers happy by confirmation of payment without the need for a phone call to be answered. I think we all can agree that we prefer the “warm and fuzzy” feeling of knowing our vehicle is waiting for us at the take-out. The service is free to the user– so when given the option of using ShuttleSnap with all of the features of confirmation and stored account options versus the “good faith” of unknown that our vehicles did get downstream, we are finding that our two-part customer base is growing on the vision we aim to continually progress.
Just how easy is it to use?
ShuttleSnap requires a five-step process to booking a shuttle.
1. Choose a river
2. Location of put-in and take-out
3. Date and Time in/out
4. Shuttle Provider selection
5. Review and Payment
Once the user has created an account, saved vehicle, contact info and securely stored credit card, it takes around 25-40 secs. It’s that easy. We built the platform for ease of navigation and simplicity in design.
Let’s say the fishing really sucks or the weather turns nasty. Is it possible to change your shuttle mid float?
Absolutely. The second text message, which informs the user that the shuttle request has been accepted, provides the user with a contact number where the shuttle provider can be best reached. Shuttles are detailed logistics, so the need for a phone call may happen in such cases.
Check back tomorrow for the rest of the interview.
