Paper Number
ECIS2026-2409
Paper Type
CRP
Abstract
Information systems research has long emphasized the role of digital technologies in improving coordination of supply and demand. However, when access to similar resources is fragmented across multiple digital services, these efficiency gains may be undermined. We study this tension in the context of on-demand rental networks, which promise to advance sustainable urban mobility. Using a unique dataset of idle periods from shared e-scooter providers operating in Basel, Switzerland, we apply time-to-event modelling to estimate the influence of temporal and spatial factors on idle time. In particular, we investigate how the presence of nearby vehicles operated by the same or competing providers affects resource utilization. Our results suggest that only vehicles operated by the same provider prolong idle times, whereas competitor vehicles exert no significant effect. These findings provide empirical evidence on the consequences of fragmented markets and contribute to the broader discourse on Green IS in a mobility setting.
Recommended Citation
Kuhmann, Julius and Ketter, Wolfgang, "Idle Times, Busy Markets: When Competition Challenges Green Mobility" (2026). ECIS 2026 Proceedings. 16.
https://aisel.aisnet.org/ecis2026/is_resil/isresilience/16
Idle Times, Busy Markets: When Competition Challenges Green Mobility
Information systems research has long emphasized the role of digital technologies in improving coordination of supply and demand. However, when access to similar resources is fragmented across multiple digital services, these efficiency gains may be undermined. We study this tension in the context of on-demand rental networks, which promise to advance sustainable urban mobility. Using a unique dataset of idle periods from shared e-scooter providers operating in Basel, Switzerland, we apply time-to-event modelling to estimate the influence of temporal and spatial factors on idle time. In particular, we investigate how the presence of nearby vehicles operated by the same or competing providers affects resource utilization. Our results suggest that only vehicles operated by the same provider prolong idle times, whereas competitor vehicles exert no significant effect. These findings provide empirical evidence on the consequences of fragmented markets and contribute to the broader discourse on Green IS in a mobility setting.