Mobility startup, Treepz is set to bolster Lagos-based bus company, CMS T&M, with technology

Treepz, a mobility startup, has announced a partnership with CMS Taxi and Motor Nigeria Limited (CMS T&M), a Lagos-based traditional bus company, just a few weeks after raising $2.8 million in seed funding and acquiring Ugabus, a Ugandan bus company.

Through this collaboration, CMS T&M passengers will have access to convenient payment options and predictable travel times via Treepz’ technology.

According to the startup’s statement, this move is in line with its mission to provide commuters with convenient and affordable modes of transportation within African cities. Treepz’s technology will also enable CMS T&M management to digitize ticketing and provide a transparent system for bus operators across its axis.

CMS T&M, formerly known as Taxi Drivers Friendship Association, is a 53-year-old licensed shuttle bus company that operates high-capacity buses and minivans in the Central Business District of Lagos, including Marina, Lagos Island, Victoria Island, Ikoyi, and Lekki areas of Lagos State.

CMS T&M transports over 1.2 million passengers per year, making it easier for city workers, students, and traders to get around. It is made up of seven cooperative associations, each of which contributes one member to the Board of Directors.

Mr Onyeka Akumah, CEO & Co-Founder Treepz, stated about the collaboration:

I am particularly excited about the opportunity for this foremost transportation company to use Treepz technology to move away from cash-based payments, paper ticketing and the general issues that come with this old way of buying bus tickets. CMS T&M will now move into the digital era with different ways for their 1.2 million annual customers to purchase their travel tickets while providing transparency and an efficient way to manage their operations with our technology. This will greatly improve the experience of daily commuters in Lagos and kick-start the digitalization of transportation systems across Nigeria

Andrew Akhigbe, Managing Director of CMS T&M, stated that his team is “excited about our recent partnership with Treepz and can’t wait to power our CMS bus park using world-class technology with benefits for both partners and commuters.” As a company that has been in operation for over 53 years, one of our goals is to drive a transparent operation system, and Treepz helps us meet this goal by utilizing technology.”

Treepz has introduced the Transportation Operator System to provide Bus Parks and Bus Operators with the necessary technology to digitise their services while increasing their customer base and managing their revenue. Treepz has operations in Ghana, Uganda, and Nigeria.

As many stakeholders in the transportation industry consider moving away from paper ticketing and cash-based transactions in order to better understand their customer inventory, Treepz is positioning itself to provide them with the technology to do so.

Treepz has an existing partnership with over 12 bus operators, according to its statement. “GUO Transport, Libra Motors, EFEX Transport Service, ABC Transport, Anambra Executive, and a list of other intercity transporters with a total fleet of 1,500 vehicles” are among them.

Treepz also provides school bus hiring services, corporate bus hiring services for their staff buses, and technology to state governments to power their state transportation systems.