Simply (Good) Business

Travelers-backed  Simply Business has built a new voice-enabled program to allow people with disabilities to map accessible routes around London.

The feature has gone live on Google Home and Amazon Alexa and has been integrated with Transport for London’s API to replicate the route planner instructions in a voice-enabled platform for those with accessibility issues. As a Benefit Corporation, a partner for the children’s disability charity Whizz-Kidz, and a sponsor of the England Amputee Football Association, Simply Business has made it its mission to help people with disabilities.

The team that developed the technology participated in a company-wide ‘create something better’ themed hackathon event. “For many people with disabilities, finding accessible travel routes around London is time-consuming and making the journey can be difficult. Through this project, we are aiming to both simplify the process and make it more enjoyable for disabled people to move around this great city. Simply Business is committed to making a positive contribution to wider society, as well as our business insurance customers, and this is one demonstration of how business can be a force for good” – Hackathon Product Lead and Digital Marketing Director, Simply Business, Beatriz Montoya.

“We are delighted to launch this program as part of our ongoing partnership with Simply Business. Voice-assisted technology holds so much potential for people with disabilities and we are excited to be harnessing this power to help make journey planning in London that much easier for young wheelchair users and their families. As part of our Get on Board campaign, it has been our aim to improve the accessibility of public transport and we hope this tool will encourage more young disabled people to make use of the transport networks in the capital” – CEO at Whizz-Kidz, Ruth Owen.