When Blindheim Idrettslag in Ålesund started using Nimmo in January, they already had transport in place. What they lacked was easier organization, less manual work, and better information for parents along the way. Three months later, the club has signed an annual agreement.
Blindheim Football runs the Telenor Xtra program for football after school, where children are picked up from school after the school day and driven to Blindheim Idrettspark for football training and play. Telenor Xtra is a national program developed in collaboration with the Norwegian Football Association and is offered by football clubs across Norway.
The transport itself has been provided by Turistbussen Ålesund for several years and has worked well practically.
However, coordination took time. Parents had to be kept informed manually, communication with the driver took place across several channels, and different end times at the involved schools made planning more complex than it seemed. Additionally, the setup required a volunteer from the club to be on the bus to ensure that the right children got on and off at the correct places. This functioned as a safety mechanism, but it tied up one person on every single trip.
In January, the club participated in a pilot project with Nimmo to see how a digital coordination platform could fit into daily operations.
With Nimmo, all transport information is on one platform. Children are checked in when they board the bus and checked out when they arrive. The driver manages this in the app, and the club automatically gets an overview of who is where. Parents receive an automatic push notification when their child is picked up at school and again when they are safely delivered at Blindheim Idrettspark. The driver has a clear overview of who needs to be picked up where, and the club no longer needs to coordinate most of it manually.
Turistbussen Ålesund, which continues to operate the transport, is positive about the change.
“Our first collaboration period with Nimmo at Blindheim Idrettslag has been good, with good dialogue and follow-up throughout the process. I have received positive feedback from parents about the messaging system, especially the push notifications they receive when their child is picked up at school and when they arrive at Blindheim Idrettspark. We have now signed a one-year agreement with Nimmo and look forward to a good collaboration in the coming year.”
Aleksander Hagerup, head of SFO and academy, Blindheim Football
After the pilot period, Blindheim highlights three things:
Time saved. Less time spent on manual follow-up and coordination than before.
Easier coordination. All information is in one place, and communication between the club, driver, and parents is structured.
A freed-up resource on the bus. Previously, the club had to send a volunteer on every trip to keep track of the children. With check-in and check-out in Nimmo, this happens automatically, and the club no longer needs to staff the bus.
Security for parents. Push notifications during pickup and delivery have been well received by parents. Many have said that knowing exactly where their child is provides real security throughout the day.
A case story without friction is rarely completely honest. Blindheim has had its challenges along the way, and it is important to be open about them.
The schools from which the children are picked up have different end times, making planning more complex than it appears. This is an operational challenge that requires good communication between the club and the driver. Nimmo helps keep track, but it doesn't just disappear with an app.
Digital maturity also varies. Most parents pick up the app without problems, but some find it takes a little time to get used to. This is a reality with all new digital tools that are introduced.
A recurring question is integration with Spond. Many clubs already use Spond, and “yet another app” is not always welcome. Blindheim has not received much negative feedback on this, but it is something Nimmo is actively working on.
Blindheim is involved in this every week. They have given us concrete feedback on what works and what can be improved. For Nimmo, clubs like Blindheim are more than just customers. They are co-developers who help us get better.
Contact us for a conversation about how Nimmo can work for your club.