Hands free networking

Filenetwerken.nl – literally ‘networking in traffic jams’ – was born of founder Patricia Zebeda’s frustration at the number of lone commuters making journeys that could be shared with others. Looking for an incentive to get people travelling together, she hit upon the idea that time spent on the road could be put to use as ‘networking’ time by inviting others along for the ride.

Useful
“I was frustrated by traffic jams; lines of cars carrying only one person,” Patricia explains. “No-one in these traffic queues was talking to each other, or really doing anything useful. I wanted to do something, with my professional strengths in networking and social sciences, to connect these people.”

Support and suspicion
While Patricia has no technical expertise in the mobility industry, she does have a firm belief in her ability to make change happen.

For eighteen months she researched her market, collecting opinions on the viability of a car-networking scheme. She attended as many mobility congresses and network meetings as she could – and was often surprised at how many attendees had driven there, alone. She garnered support from some and suspicion from others, all the while steadily increasing her profile and making contacts in the industry.

Lift-off
Three months ago, having found a technical partner in Michiel Munneke, founder of social networking site Nulaz, Filenetwerken was launched. It already has 320 members.

Into reality
The site uses the Nulaz format to put its members in touch with others making the same journey. Users advertise their starting point and destination and what time they intend to travel, and can even specify what they would like in return, and what they would like to talk about en route.

“The focus is on fun. Some ask for coffee, or chocolate, in return for the lift, and might want to tell their passenger about their business, for example,” says Patricia. “I see it as bringing social networking away from the internet and into reality. On sites like LinkedIn and Facebook, there are people with 500 friends, 450 of whom they might never have met. Filenetwerken actually connects people. And by sharing a ride, you’re doing your bit for the planet.”

Mobile phones
Plans to integrate Filenetwerken with other modes of transport are underway. Patricia anticipates that in three years the platform will have at least 300,000 members, not only in The Netherlands, but across Europe.

Users will be able to access the site on their mobile phones and, using GPS, the system will pinpoint their location in real-time. This means information like up-to-date timetables for their nearest train station, local taxi services, and crucially, the proximity of other members who might be travelling the same way, can all be sent directly to the user.

In the meantime, Patricia, like a one-woman whirlwind, will continue to promote Filenetwerken with as much enthusiasm as ever.