BICYCLE CUSTOMER IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Around half of the roughly 2 000 people working at Liantis cycle to work on an occasional basis. This company, which provides support to self-employed business owners and employers, is fully committed to smart, green and sustainable mobility as a key component of a broader well-being policy. 

In 2023, Liantis made a commitment to become a Pioneering Employer and it successfully achieved this certification in 2024. The support the company provides to self-employed people and business owners forms part of a learning network made up of organisations seeking to develop and position themselves as sustainable employers with a focus on people. 

‘We clearly demonstrate our sustainable and people-oriented approach when it comes to things like cycling,’ says Sabien Lemaire, HR Director at Liantis. ‘That’s why we’re firmly committed to smart, green and sustainable mobility. In addition to the rapid electrification of the 750 vehicles in our fleet, our mobility policy is also focusing on rolling out the option of commuting by bike.’ 

This scheme began with a mobility survey within Liantis. ‘That revealed that a lot of people within our organisation live within cycling distance of their workplace, around seven kilometres on average,’ Sabien continues. ‘This is why we’re looking at cycling as a manageable possibility for commuting. Younger employees sometimes find it difficult to do this consistently because they often need to drop off children in the morning or run errands in the evening.’

Around half of Liantis employees now cycle to work on an occasional basis, using either their own bike or a lease bike. ‘Getting a lease bike through the cafeteria plan has been an increasingly popular option for a while now. When the scheme first started in 2019, 40 employees opted for a lease bike, whereas now around 10% of colleagues have signed up and we’re hoping to increase that number. There are already numerous initiatives which tie into this objective. For example, we now organise test events and wherever possible, provide or expand on existing cycling infrastructure such as secure bicycle parking, showers and bicycle charging points. At the Ghent branch, changes were made to the car park and the bicycle parking capacity was doubled. All of the necessary requirements are taken into account in order to facilitate sustainable mobility. In addition, members of the scheme can spread their financing over three years, which certainly makes popular options such as longtail or cargo bikes feasible,’ says the HR Director. 

Employees opting for a bike are offered guidance from the outset. ‘Our occupational health and safety department offers tips on safe cycling, such as when to wear a hi-vis vest, how to look after the bike and cycling during winter. This is also communicated through our newsletter and our employees can also access information on the Liantis intranet at any time. Staying true to our focus on self-employed people and employers, we work closely with local bike dealers who advise our colleagues on choosing the right type of bike and the maintenance required,’ Sabien explains. 

‘We have stressed the importance of local bike dealers in the past, and this is further proof of that,’ says Wim Vanzeir, Head of Sales Support Services, Marketing & Communication at KBC Autolease. ‘People sometimes ask us why we don't offer brands online, and that’s the reason why. We think it’s crucial our customers get sound advice on the right bike for them so they can hop in the saddle and ride around safely.’ 

Sustainable mobility is a key component of a broader well-being policy at Liantis. ‘Cycling is exercise, and exercise is good for the health of our employees. That’s why we strive to combine sustainable employability of our colleagues with sustainable mobility,’ Sabien adds. 

There also seems to be growing enthusiasm for bike leasing at Liantis. ‘A lot of colleagues are ordering a new lease bike at the end of their lease contract. We see this as a positive sign and a testament to the scheme’s success,’ Sabien adds. ‘That isn’t something to take for granted – it really shows that bike leasing has won people over’, says Wim. 

Liantis’ smart mobility policy is up and running as the result of persistent efforts alongside a clear and widely shared vision. Liantis can rely on KBC Autolease to help achieve its mobility goals. ‘This mobility provider has recently invested heavily in digitising the quote, ordering and maintenance process when leasing a bike. As a result, the process runs more efficiently, quickly and transparently,’ says the director. 

‘We’re just as pleased to have model customers like Liantis,’ adds Wim Vanzeir. ‘The company gives due consideration to a holistic mobility policy (sustainability, financing and practice), and that combination is what makes things really work.’

‘Following the test event, we hope that Liantis employees will soon use the digital tools available to contact a local bike dealer. We see more orders coming in after these kinds of events, which is a good thing for both Liantis and KBC Autolease,’ concludes Jan Ryckaert, Pre-Sales Specialist at KBC Autolease.