The legal mobility budget with Business & Decision

Who is Business & Decision?

In brief, it is an international CRM and e-business consultancy.

Experts in everything digital & data.

They’re more than happy to look into digital strategies and are ready to innovate alongside their customers.

Business & Decision over het wettelijk mobiliteitsbudget

How does business mobility take shape at Business & Decision?

As true innovators, they were among the first to implement the legal mobility budget. Approximately 170 employees have already joined, 50 of them with a company car in pillar 1. That is one-sixth of their total fleet.

They are even more committed to further reducing their CO2 emissions in 2023. Working from home and electric cars are just some examples of their sustainable mobility policy.

They are also unpacking all pillars of the legal mobility budget this year. Many of their employees have already chosen to spend their budgets on housing costs.

Their only challenge? Current contracts with leasing companies.

Tine: “We find ourselves in the transition years. The Belgian state is calling for electric driving, but our contracts have not yet expired. That is why we also have fuel engines available.”

Watch the full interview here:

What did your mobility policy look like a few years ago?

Tine: “In 2020, we opted for cash-for-car, which was a huge success. After discontinuation in 2021, we looked towards the legal mobility budget.

This is a great project, but it currently deters companies because of its complexity. Especially since it is new.”

What challenges did you encounter in terms of mobility?

“We experienced dissatisfaction from our employees. Some of them used their company car only to a limited extent or not at all, but still faced the associated costs.

Furthermore, we also paid their public transport expenses.

That means that we incurred double costs, while dealing with dissatisfaction. This marked the start of our search for a solution for better mobility.”

What criteria was that solution expected to meet?

“The most important criterion, of course, was the satisfaction of our employees. A reduction in our CO2 emissions also played a role.

We also wanted to avoid increasing red tape at all times. The HR and finance departments already have enough on their plate as it is.

A project like the legal mobility budget should not add to that.”

What advice would you give to other companies who want to use the legal mobility budget?

First of all, make sure your management is behind your choices. Next, organise a survey within your company to establish the needs of your employees. Are they actually interested in such a mobility budget?

After that, it’s a matter of using the right tools. For me, that means Olympus Mobility.

It is also important to engage an external person to guide you through the whole process. That is how you reduce the burden on HR.

We were able to count on the expertise of Thierry Devresse of My Mobility Budget Butler.

If you do not have the right guidance and tool, implementation will be an administrative nightmare.”

Why did you choose Olympus Mobility?

Users can consult their budget in real-time every day. Expenses are deducted immediately, including housing costs.

Refunds are made immediately by Olympus Mobility. This means that employees do not have to wait a month for their money.

Also, the administrative cost we saved is almost equal to the work of a half-time employee.

The costs of external coaching and Olympus Mobility are actually not that expensive, by the way. I definitely recommend giving it a listen before setting it aside.”

Tine also states:

I believe in the legal mobility budget and the applications that guide us in it. Once electric driving becomes more widespread in society, people are increasingly starting to look towards the legal mobility budget.

They will opt more for a smaller car and use the remaining budget for alternative solutions.”

What does an experienced user of the legal mobility budget himself have to say about it?

We spoke to Pierre Caeymaex. As a Data Consultant at Business & Decision, he moves around Brussels by public transport on a daily basis. Or on his electric skateboard. He opted for the train for his holiday in France.

Pierre: “I initially chose the legal mobility budget because you can also use it to pay your rent. But in the end, the many options are the biggest strength of this system.”

“I have been using my budget for a subscription with SNCF since the implementation at Business & Decision, which gives me a discount on my TGV journeys.

I could also afford to use it to pay for my taxi rides, to rent an e-scooter and to purchase an e-bike and skateboard, as well my rental costs.”

Pierre has the following to say about using the Olympus app: “The app supports me in my choice of sustainable mobility.

Moreover, I can also contribute the cost of spare parts and repairs for my bike and skateboard.”

What does the future look like for Business & Decision in terms of mobility?

Tine: “Keep aiming for electric cars. Keep explaining what the mobility budget entails, what options are available and, above all, all the benefits. And keep doing what we have already started!”

Thank you for the pleasant chat, Tine and Pierre!

Are you also implementing the legal mobility budget?

Tim’s Journey

The name is Brys. Tim Brys.

For the sports laymen among us: Tim Brys is an Olympic rower.

Yes, you read that right! Olympic.

Not only because he is the ambassador of Olympus Mobility but also because he actually participated in the Olympics.

In 2020, he teamed up with his rowing partner Niels Van Zandweghe to compete in Tokyo. The duo eventually achieved an impressive 5th place.

That same year, he also broke Toon Aerts’ cycling record in the Container Cup. That is quite an achievement!

To be honest, we are not really surprised. After all, we have yet to see Tim without his bike. Except on water, that is.

Tim Brys, ambassadeur van Olympus Mobility
Tim Brys, Olympus Mobility ambassador

Next stop: Paris 2024

Those who know a bit about major sporting events are aware that the Olympic Games will take place in 2024.

Sounds like a logical next stop for Tim Brys, doesn’t it?

He will compete in numerous races throughout 2023 to secure his spot in the Belgian rowing team.

It promises to be an exciting year ahead for our ambassador!

Tim’s Journey

The Olympus team wants to support our ambassador on his journey to Paris.

Consequently, you will see some posts appearing on our social media throughout the year with #TimsJourney.

Would you like to support him as well? Make sure to follow us on your favourite social media channel: LinkedInFacebookInstagram.

On this page we keep track of developments related to: Tim Brys’ upcoming competitions, results …

You can follow everything closely. A bit like ESPN, actually, or even a dedicated fan page.

4/02 – GRS indoor competition

Our ambassador spent the last few months preparing with his teammates. After three stages, the time had come: the first race of the season, the ergometer championship in Ghent.

248 rowers competed, each in their own ranking, for the best time on the indoor rowing machines. Tim rowed the 2000 metres in 6 minutes, taking 5th place.

His teammate and world indoor rowing champion Ward Lemmelijn lived up to his title and came first.

Congratulations to all the rowers!

March 12 – International Riverhead

Gold! At the international skiff competition in Seneffe, Tim Brys secured first place.

After a 6-kilometre battle, our ambassador won with some 20 seconds ahead of fellow Belgian Shark Ruben Claeys.

That’s not the first time, by the way.

In both 2019 and 2022, our ambassador could also call himself the winner. In the process, he also improved his time this year (24:17 in 2022, 22:59 in 2023).

In Tim’s own words: ‘Good race. 😊’

Congratulations, Tim!

Practice in Varese (Italy)

Ambassadeur Olympus Mobility Tim Brys op stage in Varese (Italië) met fellow Belgian Sharks

Behind the scenes of the stage in Varese to prepare for the race in Piediluco. 🚣🏼‍♂️

1 – 2 April – Outdoor competition Piediluco

Ambassadeur Tim Brys en onze Belgian Sharks winnen tweemaal brons in Piediluco

Two bronze medals!

The Belgian Sharks took third place in the international rowing competition both Saturday and Sunday. 🥉

Congratulations Tim, Ward, Ruben and Gaston!

21 – 23 April – Belgian Championship Hazewinkel

Ambassadeur van Olympus Mobility Tim Brys behaalde zilver op het Belgisch Kampioenschap roeien in Hazewinkel

Our ambassador is on a winning streak!

He found himself on stage “amongst the youngsters”, as Tim likes to call them.

Congratulations on your silver medal, Tim!

6 to 7 May – Ghent May Regatta

Nothing like a win in your own city. Except for two wins, that is.
At the KRSG Regatta in Ghent, Tim Brys could call himself the winner twice. A wonderful achievement, Tim!

Olympus Mobility ambassador and Olympic rower Tim Brys wins twice at the KRSG Regatta

25 to 28 May – European Championship in Bled

The European Championships in Bled was the first competition where Tim competed against the other European heavyweight skiffeurs. In 2022, he made a switch from the lightweights, a choice that clearly suits him. 

With the Olympus Mobility sticker on his skiff, he rowed four races throughout the weekend. In the B final, where six European skiffeurs compete for places seven to 12, Tim led for most of the race. 
With silver in the B final, he secured a nice 8th place at the European Championships. 

A beautiful race, Tim. On to the next!

15 to 18 June – World Cup Rowing in Varese

Tim continues to perform strongly. At the World Rowing Cup in Varese, our sculler took fourth place.

Congratulations, Tim!

6 to 9 July – World Cup Rowing Luzern

Tim proves to be a fixed value in the top 10. After an exhilarating B final, he took second place. Good for eighth place in the final standings.

With the results of the past World Cups, our ambassador clearly built a solid foundation to qualify for the Olympics.

But first: the World Championship in Belgrade. Good luck!

1 to 10 September – World Championship Belgrade

This year’s World Cup in Belgrade was the moment to secure an Olympic ticket. When you land in the top 9, you’re in.

Tim landed in 13th place, but: “My place does not reflect my performance.

In the first race, our ambassador secured second place. A smooth start, but due to bad luck in the draw, he was up against the number 1, 2 and 4 of the past World Cup season in the quarterfinals.

When you don’t finish in the top three at that point, you also lose your spot in the semi-finals. Tim finished fourth, with less than a second difference to his predecessor.

The further races he won convincingly. He finished in 13th place.

Unfortunately, therefore, no spot for the Paris Olympics yet. But his sights are set on the European Continental Qualification Regatta in April 2024.

I am going to give everything. The chances of placing are great,” Tim said.

Tim Brys op het WK in Belgrado, foto van Balint Czucz

Photo: Balint Czucz

Tim Brys samen met de andere Belgian Sharks op het WK roeien in Belgrado

Photo: Balint Czucz

Follow Tim’s Journey on social media

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The 5 corporate mobility trends of 2023

Mobility trend 1. Fleet electrification

Welcome to 2023! This is the year when tax breaks for fuel engines and plug-in hybrids are being systematically phased out.

This had been coming for a while, of course.

After Peteghem’s act was approved in 2021, companies surged into action. You probably remember the endless meetings on the topic of adapting your mobility policy, and how to make it greener.

The time has finally come: electric cars are officially becoming the ‘new normal’. And that is a good thing. Electric cars are both better for the environment and cost-saving.

That may very well sound like music to your ears. Your organisation’s CO2 emissions are reduced, while you save on employee travel costs.

Moreover, the charging stations in your company car park are currently 100% tax deductible.


Not up to speed about the new legislation yet? Read briefly about the tax changes here:

  • Tax deductibility for fuel cars will be systematically reduced after 1 July 2023.
  • For plug-in hybrids, this rule has already applied since 1 January 2023.
  • Cars purchased after this date are in a transitional phase.
  • During this period, tax benefits will be systematically phased out until 2028.
  • What if you buy a car after 2026 and it runs (partly) on fossil fuel? Then it is no longer tax deductible.

Mobility trend 2. The implementation of a legal mobility budget

This seamlessly brings us to the second mobility trend, as electrification goes hand in hand with the legal mobility budget. And here’s why.

When you implement the legal mobility budget in your company, you start by calculating the Total Cost of Ownership. This is done based on the current cost of your employee’s fuel car.

Your employee can then spend this budget on 3 pillars:

  • Pillar 1: an environmentally friendly car
  • Pillar 2: sustainable means of transport or rental costs
  • Pillar 3: cash

When you look up the term ‘environmentally friendly car’ on Google, you will notice that the focus is on electric models.

Your employees are free to use the remainder of the budget for sustainable means of transport, rental costs and international train journeys with the family. Weekend in Berlin, anyone?

So, weekend getaway or even something else: you will find that the legal mobility budget brings with it a wide choice of mobility options. Your employees are therefore free to go wherever they wish, each time using the most optimal means of transport.

You may think that this sounds good, and indeed it does. Bank Van Breda and numerous other companies are very much in favour of it, and according to the coalition agreement employees without a company car will also be able to enter this tax advantageous framework in the future!

Need a practical example? See how Mediahuis implemented the legal mobility budget.

Mobiliteitstrend in 2023: elektrische wagens en het wettelijk mobiliteitsbudget
Photographer: Michael Fousert | Source: Unsplash

Mobility trend 3. Employees opt for sustainable mobility

If the figures from VIAS Institute and FPS Mobility and Transport are to be believed, the number of teleworkers has doubled in four years. This is reflected in fewer kilometres travelled, as well as opting for alternative means of transport. This trend continues to grow.

Let’s look at the numbers.

Sustainable mobility is clearly gaining momentum, and with the new technological evolutions, it is not going away any time soon. Just look at the increasing use of e-bikes.

Autonomous vehicles also need to be taken notice of. Who knows, you might soon be enjoying a ride with colleagues in a self-driving car!

De mobiliteitstrend in 2023: het combineren van vervoersmiddelen

Mobility trend 4. Employers opt for flexible mobility policy

The above mobility trends in society are naturally also reflected in the necessary adjustments in mobility policy. Moreover, 70% of workers would like to have more of a say in their own salary package.

That combination creates an increased focus towards a cafeteria plan.

But what is a cafeteria plan? Allow us to explain.

It is a flexible salary package that allows employees to choose their own benefits, without rising salary costs.

Those benefits could include extra days off or an internet subscription, for example, but also: sustainable mobility. That way, their salary package is personalised.

You don’t need us to tell you that this is an asset in the battle for talent.

Find out what mobility benefits you can offer your employees.

Mobility trend 5. Mobility-as-a-Service is rising in popularity

More than 97% of 18- to 35-year-olds are using mobility apps today. That’s a whole lot of people. Belgians normally install several apps to order tickets.

That in itself is not surprising, given that more than half of Belgians have shown interest in an integrated platform. Meet our hero: Mobility-as-a-Service, or simply ‘MaaS’.

A MaaS platform bundles all available means of transport: train, tram, bus, as well as shared cars and bikes. The Olympus app also includes parking options, taxis and charging cards.

With a MaaS platform, you therefore only need to download one app for all your tickets.

A MaaS app makes sustainable mobility easy for your employees. It allows them to catch the train and then rent a shared bike to their final destination. All with a single app.

For companies where greening of their mobility policy enjoys top priority, this is a genuine must-have.

De mobiliteitstrend van 2023: Mobility as a Service (MaaS)

Interested in

Mobility-as-a-Service?