Most common counter-arguments to the mobility budget and how to respond

“A mobility budget is too expensive. We don't have the financial resources for that!"

  • With the help of a mobility budget, we can reduce our vehicle fleet and thus save costs.
  • We can reduce CO2 costs by creating incentives for climate-friendly means of transport with the benefit.
  • A modern benefit supports us in recruiting and retaining employees, which allows us to save HR costs.
  • The mobility budget is an attractive alternative to a salary increase - more net for employees and cheaper for employers.
  • We can adapt the amount of the mobility budget to our financial situation and set it individually.

“Our employees are happy. Why do we need a(nother) benefit?”

  • The mobility budget can replace or simplify other complex and expensive benefit programs.
  • A mobility budget reaches everyone in the company, as mobility will continue to be relevant as a basic need in the coming years.
  • There is a growing awareness of climate protection and a desire for more flexibility, especially among young professionals. We are picking up on this trend and strengthening our employer brand in the long term.
  • We actively involve our employees in our sustainability strategy with a mobility budget.

“Why should we invest in mobility of all things?”

  • Mobility is a basic need. Mobility as a benefit therefore reaches everyone. This helps us to recruit and retain employees.
  • Many mobility offers are tax-privileged and are more worthwhile than a salary increase or other employer benefits.
  • Mobility can account for up to 50% of our carbon footprint, especially commuting by car. In view of rising CO2 prices, we should create incentives for sustainable mobility.
  • In the near future, we will also have to collect and report data on company mobility for the CSRD. With a digital mobility budget, we can automatically determine this data.

“We already offer company cars / fuel cards / company bike / Deutschlandticket, etc.”

  • The mobility benefit is not intended to do away with our existing offers, but to bring them together and thus significantly simplify administration, billing and taxation.
  • We can replace the cumbersome administration of the Deutschlandticket with an easy-to-implement digital solution that can map our complex corporate structure.
  • Many offers, such as company cars or fuel cards, are only relevant for certain groups of employees. With a mobility budget, we create equality for all locations and departments and also offer more flexibility. However, we can also set the budget amounts individually for each employee group.
  • With a mobility budget, we can create incentives for sustainable mobility. It is therefore more environmentally friendly than a company car.
  • We want to electrify our vehicle fleet. With a mobility budget, we can support the switch to e-mobility and avoid supply bottlenecks or high acquisition costs by (temporarily) offering an e-car subscription.

“Our employees mainly work from home anyway.”

  • A mobility budget is relevant for all employees. It can be used for commuting as well as privately and in leisure time. We can use it to make our employees' everyday lives easier, for example when they have to take their children to nursery or school.
  • The mobility budget can be customized and adapted to the different roles and working models of our employees.

“Another piece of software? We already have enough systems.”

  • Yes, we would introduce additional software, but the additional work for us is limited.
  • We only have to configure the control setup once and define rules and mobility guidelines.
  • Our employees then use the app solution independently and individually - self-managed.
  • NAVIT takes care of the verification, billing and taxation of mobility expenses.
  • The platform can be easily integrated into 25+ HR and payroll systems, automating administrative processes.

“It's far too time-consuming administratively. We have no staff at all for implementation and user administration.”

NAVIT replaces rigid concepts and manual processes with a digital, integrated solution with an intuitive user experience, including‍

1. automated policies‍

2. optimized tax structuring‍

3. integrations with HRIS

Only one initial setup is required for implementation to ensure that the mobility budget is aligned with the company, its employees and taxation.

“It won't work, our employees are already overwhelmed with submitting receipts for business trips.”

  • We can introduce the mobility benefit via a digital app solution. Employees pay with a virtual debit card or simply use the app integrations. Billing is automated.
  • If they have any questions or technical difficulties, they can contact NAVIT support.

“What about taxation? Our payroll and controlling departments can't handle that.”

  • If we introduce the mobility budget via a software solution, we can manage all mobility expenses in one place without any additional effort.
  • From booking in the app to payroll accounting, everything is automated. All data is automatically prepared for the payroll team and made available via interfaces.
  • Public transport allowance, 50-euro benefit in kind, 30% flat-rate taxation, etc.: NAVIT ensures maximum tax savings and takes care of digital and tax-compliant processing.
  • Receipt verification and documentation requirements are guaranteed by the provider.

“When we work with a software provider, our data is not secure.”

  • NAVIT relies on strong and secure data encryption and is ISO 27001 certified. All data is also stored in Germany.
  • An order data agreement prohibits the use and disclosure of data.

Stefan Wendering
Stefan is a freelance writer and editor at NAVIT. Previously, he worked for startups and in the mobility cosmos. He is an expert in urban and sustainable mobility, employee benefits and new work. Besides blog content, he also creates marketing materials, taglines and content for websites and case studies.