How does a small, family-run business with four buses grow into a dominant transport platform through 11 acquisitions? In this episode of The Future of Ground Transportation, we go down under to speak with Stuart Stratton from Con-X-ion in Australia. We dive deep into their journey of growth, adaptation, and cutting-edge tech adoption.
Stuart shares how his team is using AI to radically accelerate software development, turning projects that once took four weeks into seven-hour tasks. He also discusses the challenges of competing with government-subsidized transport, the strategic shift from being a transport provider to a transport platform, and his vision for a future with autonomous vehicles. This is a must-watch for anyone interested in business growth, technology, and the future of mobility.
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
The strategy behind successfully completing 11 acquisitions
How to build your own software when nothing on the market fits
A clever recruitment strategy for finding great drivers when there's a shortage
How AI can make your development team exponentially more productive
The mindset needed to turn a service business into a scalable platform
Episode Highlights:
The strategy behind successfully completing 11 acquisitions
Stuart shares the most overlooked aspect of an acquisition strategy: managing the human element. Learn how Con-X-ion navigated the cultural challenges of merging 11 different companies, including turning "bitter rivals" into a unified and effective team.
How to build your own software when nothing on the market fits
Discover why off-the-shelf software couldn't support Con-X-ion's complex multi-stop shuttle model, forcing them to build their own platform from scratch. Stuart explains the 15-year journey of developing proprietary technology and how it became their biggest competitive advantage.
A clever recruitment strategy for finding great drivers when there's a shortage
Facing a severe driver shortage, Con-X-ion abandoned traditional recruitment and instead marketed a "part-time lifestyle opportunity" on social media. Find out how this unique approach attracted a dedicated, reliable workforce and dramatically improved their customer satisfaction scores.
How AI can make your development team exponentially more productive
Learn how Stuart's team is leveraging AI to accelerate their software development at an unprecedented speed, cutting a project from four weeks down to just seven hours. He explains the shift in mindset from developers as programmers to developers as architects, who guide AI to build the code for them.
The mindset needed to turn a service business into a scalable platform
Stuart breaks down the crucial strategic shift from being a hands-on service provider to becoming a scalable technology platform. Understand the mindset required to build an ecosystem that connects all stakeholders and prepares your business for future disruptions like autonomous vehicles.
Resources Mentioned:
Book: Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap... and Others Don't by Jim Collins.
Book: How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie.
Book: The Simple Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson.
About the Guest
Stuart Stratton is a leader at Con-X-ion, one of Australia's premier ground transportation providers based on the Gold Coast. With a background in sales and telecommunications, Stuart took a central role in his family's transport business, steering it through significant challenges and periods of intense growth. He has been instrumental in the company's expansion, overseeing a strategy that has included 11 acquisitions and a major technological pivot from a traditional transport provider to an integrated software platform. Today, Stuart focuses on leveraging cutting-edge technology like AI to drive efficiency and prepare Con-X-ion for the future of mobility.