Providing customer satisfaction in the rail network (August 2017)
In August 2017, ChargeBox installed our latest solution as part of a device charging trial with Transport Systems Catapult, Network Rail and the Department for Transport
It is increasingly common for train operating companies to enhance their mobile customer journey with the development of new apps and e-ticketing, all being enabled and supported by wifi connectivity in the trains and stations. Unfortunately, increased phone usage leaves more and more passengers with very little battery, increased anxiety and until now, no method of recharging.
ChargeBox have combined the new locker-less solution, The Qube, with a custom built table to provide charging in four zones throughout Birmingham New Street Station. Whether passing through or catching a train, users can now grab a quick boost!
For more information on the trial, contact a member of our team at sales@ChargeBox.com or find the official press release from Transport Systems Catapult, click here
New product launch – The Qube
May 2017 see's the launch of our exciting new non-lockable, table top charging solution, The Qube.
The key electronics from our lockable solutions have been shrunk into the smallest package possible, while bringing all of the benefits of the Chargebox managed charging service to enable charge-while-you-use.
The Qube delivers optimised charging, up to iPad level, via our Sugru-enhanced cables for to 8 devices simultaneously. Forget slow charging, or bringing your own cables, just plug in, charge and use.
The development of a non-locking solution has been in response to strong demand from our events clients to serve the additional need for a table top solution to compliment the extensive locker fleet that is deployed to hundreds of events across the country each year.
Our first 70 Qubes have been manufactured entirely in London using the highest quality materials, and we think you’ll agree, the design is stunning, a perfect addition to any conference room, reception space or event.
If you are interested in finding out more information on The Qube, please click here.
West London Business Awards 2017
ChargeBox win 'Best Technology Business of the Year' and 'Manufacturing and Engineering Business of the Year'
We are delighted to announce our 'double win' at the prestigious 2017 West London Business Awards, held at Wembley Stadium on 2nd February. Hosted by Konnie Huq, and with over 350 guests in attendance, the awards ceremony showcased business excellence in West London, with awards given across a number of categories. We are thrilled to have won the Best Technology Business of the Year, and Best Manufacturing and Engineering Business of the Year. These accolades represent 12 years of head work in growing and developing ChargeBox into the international business that it is today. Two fabulous trophies that we can add to our growing collection!
ChargeBox successfully raise £500K through Crowdcube
Raised equity will now fund expansion for the international leader in mobile charging technology.
London, 5th February 2016 - ChargeBox, the world’s leading provider of secure mobile charging technology, became one of the latest funded companies of 2015 on Crowdcube, the leading equity crowdfunding platform, reaching their £500K target on 24th December and joining the “funded club”. Overwhelmed by the response from professional and private investors, ChargeBox is very well positioned to deliver on their mission of bringing free charging everywhere. With a strong international component to the investment, the platform for worldwide growth is also further enhanced.
ChargeBox first priority for investment is staff, with significant expansion in the Sales, Engineering/Operations and Technology teams. Rob Scali and Sarah Dyer have recently joined as Chief Financial Officer and UK Operations Manger respecitvely. Rob joined after a longer career with technology solution provided Schlumberger, which has given him a worldwide experience of business operations and finance. Sarah joined from the ATM industry where she successfully grew a fleet from around 400 units to over 8,000 - an increase of 20 times - which she is now looking to repeat at ChargeBox. Additional team members were also welcomed in Sales and Engineering/Operations at the start of January.
ChargeBox will also use the investment raised to step up their marketing and Research and Development activities. ChargeBox is already the world’s leading supplier of free secure public charging services - from being the first to deliver such a service back in 2006, to being the first to charge more than 5 million devices a year. The company has built over 2,000 units, and exported more than 1,000 of those to over 33 countries worldwide. ChargeBox units are now installed in shopping centres, airports, universities and conference centres all around the world, with new markets and territories constantly being developed.
All units are built using ChargeBox Smart Lock technology - providing the very best levels of security which PIN-based and card-based solutions cannot match. In 2013 ChargeBox introduced their second generation Smart Lock system which is now patented. In November 2015 they became the first company to deliver a service for USB Type-C devices at Sephora Flash, the first connected store launched by French beauty retailer Sephora in Paris.
Ian Hobson, CEO said: “It’s been a tremendous journey, crowdfunding has enabled us to raise the funds we need to grow our business and deliver on our mission of bringing free charging everywhere. Our team have risen to the occasion and we could not have achieved this without their efforts. I’m delighted that many of our existing investors have stepped up, and to welcome 160 new investors who have backed our vision. I’m also delighted with the potential from many of our new investors to help us grow our business - especially in key international markets. We are excited to be expanding our business for the benefit of the UK economy and the benefit of every smartphone user who needs our services.”
Having reached their crowdfunding target, the first action of ChargeBox will be to install one of their mobile charging stations at the Birmingham Children Hospital, to provide free and easy to use charging to young patients and their visiting families.
To download the Press Release, click here.
Introduction to nomophobia in retail
ChargeBox releases it's white paper on the impact of nomophobia
ChargeBox, the UK leading provider of secure device charging solutions, has undertaken customer research to establish the impact of a flat battery on the experience and spending of shoppers in retail.
Through the years in the charging industry, ChargeBox noted a clear correlation between a charged battery and shoppers’ extended dwell time in retail destinations.
Indeed, as mobile sessions on shopping Apps are growing at a rate of 174% per year, smartphones are more and more integrated into the customers’ shopping journey, from store location to price comparison and actual purchase. A flat battery, by preventing this, is seen by customers as a reason to cut short their shopping trip.
But more than only impacting dwell time, a flat battery, by creating a strong feeling of anxiety, turned out to have a tangible impact on shoppers’ enjoyment of they in-store shopping experience. A term first coined by the UK Post Office in 2008 refers to this anxiety as nomophobia, the fear of being without a mobile phone.
Chargebox decided to carry out extensive customer surveys in two popular shopping centres hosting its service, and reported that nomophobia affected 76% of its interviewed users. Offering a free charging solution relieved the interviewed shoppers from their stress of a dead battery, and enabled them to stay longer on site, triggering further unplanned spending.
Indeed, amongst the interviewed ChargeBox users, 56% spent money whilst their phones was on charge: 39% bought products, 17% were planning on spending money on food and beverages, and 32% were enabled to carry on window shopping, which they would not have been doing with the stress of a dead battery. The white paper, which gathers these statistics and expands further on the impact of nomophobia on retail, is available for download here.
ChargeBox powers students engagement at King’s College London
ChargeBox launches it's free to use charging solution at a prestigious university.
ChargeBox, the leading provider of secure device charging solutions, is teaming up with King’s College London, one of the most prestigious universities in the world, to provide free charging to students. ChargeBox has installed 24 of their new phone and tablet charging stations.
Mobile phones and tablets have become interactive learning devices for students, used for communication, research, note taking and much more. Successful universities are encouraging the use of portable devices and integrating them into the studying experience, with ubiquitous free Wi-Fi and bring your own device support on campus. Offering free device charging is the next step in the transition to omni-channel learning.
King’s College London is the first university in the UK to embrace secure phone and tablet charging, with the latest ChargeBox stations installed across the campus. Students will be able to securely charge their smartphones and tablets for 30 minutes, while carrying on learning and enjoying student life, stress free.
After a successful trial of ChargeBox+ smartphone charging stations earlier this year, King’s College London saw the need for tablet charging. ChargeBox jumped at the opportunity to launch its new charging solution, ChargeBox+ Max, a station with the capability to support most tablets in addition to all smartphones. ChargeBox estimates that the service will be used as many as a quarter of a millions times next year, benefiting a huge number of students.
Education is a primary target market for ChargeBox, in addition to retail and transport hubs, closely following King’s College London, we have delivered four ChargeBox+ Max to Said Business School, the business school of the University of Oxford.
Nick Leake, CIO of King’s College London said: “I am delighted we have been able to have ChargeBox provide on-campus charging facilities for our students. The telemetrics are excellent and we see high levels of usage as students recharge devices through the day. It is also great to be buying from a local British company with a really innovative product that is well designed. The team at ChargeBox have been a pleasure to work with and their product has enabled us to avoid expensive installation of power outlets in listed buildings around our estate.”
Ian Hobson, Founder and CEO of ChargeBox said: “We are delighted to be working with such a renowned university and look forward to a fruitful relationship. Our charging stations are highly secure and easy-to-use and we believe that they will contribute to the improvement of the life of Kings College London students enabling them to concentrate on their studies, rather than worrying about running out of battery.”
ChargeBox is delighted to be trusted by such renowned entities, and to contribute to the improvement of future world leaders’ engagement.
Free charging when you need it
Ian Hobson gives an interview on what it takes to build a world leading company.
ChargeBox's founder and Managing Director Ian Hobson gives a forward thinking interview for Kiosk Solutions, a leading European Magazine.
If Ian Hobson has his way, your phone will never run out of battery again. Using an innovative charging service, he aims to deliver secure, free charging in public places around the world.
Modern life relies heavily on smart device, in particular mobile phones. With a pocket-sized device offering quick and easy access to the internet for socialising, entertainment, good old-fashioned phone calls and more, it's no surprise we use them so much. We could live without them, of course, but when the power runs out it can sometimes feel like the world is about to end. And that's exactly where ChargeBox comes in...
To read more on how it all started and where ChargeBox is heading, 6 months after its successful crowdfunding campaign, read the full interview of ChargeBox's founder Ian Hobson here.