Fujitsu & Beryl: Using Data to Power Sustainable Mobility
In a pioneering move to accelerate sustainable urban transport, Fujitsu and micromobility provider Beryl have successfully completed a new field trial.
Using Social Digital Twin (SDT) technology, the collaboration is optimising the deployment of new rental bays in Norwich, England.
The results speak volumes: sites chosen through SDT recorded double the ridership and revenue compared to those planned using conventional methods.
This innovative approach is helping Norwich strengthen its green credentials, supporting a shift to cleaner, data-informed urban mobility.
- SDT technology uses digital twins to model and simulate social systems, enabling the simulation of human behaviour and interactions in a virtual environment
- SDT for "digital rehearsal" of policies and interventions before implementation in the real world, helping to predict their impact and optimise outcomes
- SDTs are particularly useful for addressing complex social challenges like CO₂ reduction, urban planning and disaster resilience by providing a platform for stakeholders to collaborate and explore different solutions
Sustainable transport meets smart technology
Beryl operates a growing network of shared bikes, e-bikes, e-scooters and cargo bikes across the UK.
In Norwich alone, users can access more than 175 bay locations, offering citizens convenient and low-emission transport alternatives.
However as Beryl sought to expand, the company needed a more intelligent, data-driven method to select future bay locations – one that would minimise risk, maximise use and contribute to a broader sustainability mission.
Through an ongoing partnership with Fujitsu, Beryl turned to SDT technology to tackle this challenge.
"Our work with Fujitsu on utilising Social Digital Twin tools is invaluable in allowing us to increase accessibility to our vehicles on-street, while maximising ridership and revenue through addressing lost opportunities,” says Ben Lee, Strategic Partnerships Lead at Beryl.
“This work is key in enabling us to deliver the best service in Norwich by providing the optimum bay network."
SDT combines multiple data sources to build a virtual model of real-world commuting patterns, factoring in where people live, how they travel and what influences their mobility choices.
This enabled Beryl to strategically place six new rental hubs based on SDT recommendations and compare their performance with nine sites identified using traditional techniques.
The outcome was clear: SDT-powered sites achieved more than double the ridership and revenue across a two-month trial, proving the business and environmental case for data-led urban planning.
Real world environmental impact
Beyond optimising transport, SDT shows how digital tools can support sustainable business models.
Beryl, which has a fleet already powered by more than 71% low-impact renewable energy, has cut its gas consumption by nearly 90%, replacing the remainder with biogas.
Its UK-based assembly hub operates on 100% renewable energy, reducing emissions from manufacturing and logistics.
"This field trial with Beryl has underlined the operational value of Social Digital Twin, doubling both ridership and revenue in real terms,” says Dr Makiko Hisatomi, Executive Director, Fujitsu Research of Europe.
“The benefits are tangible, from helping to reduce traffic congestion and GHG emissions for cleaner air in Norwich to enhancing Beryl’s revenue and de-risking decision-making about where to site future rental bays.
“It is a prime example of how our technology can contribute to society via a demand-based data-driven approach, building a viable strategy to achieve Net Positive."
Beryl also embraces circular economy principles through its "hire and share" model, which reduces the total number of vehicles on the road.
All bikes and scooters are built with interchangeable parts for ease of repair and recycling. Components are reused or sent to accredited partners for material recovery, including 100% recycling of batteries, tyres and innertubes.
Damaged parts are sorted, weighed and tracked to ensure responsible disposal.
Blueprint for smarter cities
The partnership between Fujitsu and Beryl offers a blueprint for how cities and transport providers can harness behavioural insights to enhance both environmental outcomes and business performance.
SDT bridges the gap between data science and social impact, empowering companies to make smarter, greener infrastructure investments.
As cities around the world grapple with decarbonisation, congestion and accessibility, this field trial illustrates the power of collaboration and technology in driving sustainable change.
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