Meet 2025 Next Work Environment Competition Pick-A-Problem Category Winner, Rylee Zandstra and her innovative solution to a common friction point.
Commuter Connect is a solution to the long, boring commute millions of Americans, including myself, face every day. It provides a variety of features including traffic updates, media recommendations, carpool options, and commuter survival kits for the optimal commute!
Check Out Commuter Connect
A Deeper Look
Commuting to work every day is the reality for millions of Americans. This commute often comes with challenges like traffic, poor road conditions, and weather. To address this, I designed an app to transform the daily commute into an experience rather than a dreaded task. It would be called “Commuter Connect.” This platform would offer features such as live traffic updates, user-generated recommendations for media, rideshare opportunities, community building, and commuter survival kits.
The app would be a space for users to post about their drive, enabling commuters to share live updates on traffic, accidents, and detours. This content would be user based, offering a dynamic evaluation of road conditions, helping commuters make informed decisions and save time. This could reduce tardiness for companies as well.
To make the commute more enjoyable, the app would offer personalized music and podcast recommendations. Users can create and share playlists, discover new content, and browse user posted recommendations, turning the commute into a time for relaxation and entertainment.
The app will also be a place for connecting users looking to find shared rides or carpool opportunities. This would reduce the number of vehicles on the road and promote more sustainable transportation methods. By offering a safe and secured platform for coordinating carpools, the app will help commuters save money, reduce their carbon footprint, and build a community. It would also contribute to company sustainability efforts.
The app will create a sense of community among employees through discussion boards, event announcements, and interest groups. This feature will benefit users, designating the app as a space for social interaction and support, in addition to providing commuter resources.
Lastly, the app will serve as the space for commuters to order customizable “Commuter Survival Kits.” Ideally, companies using the app will offer options for users to order and customize these kits including items like snacks, drinks, toiletries, and company merch. The app will manage the schedule for kit deliveries, reducing strain on the company but allowing for them to receive the full benefits.
Commuter Connect would help companies provide their employees with a tool to enhance their daily commute and overall happiness. Ideally, the app would be designed as an individual entity that companies could subscribe to. In the short term, summer interns, like me, could create a beta version of the “app” by using third-party platforms like GroupMe or Flare to create a space for sharing information and recommendations to make the commute more enjoyable.
My goal for this app is to revolutionize the daily commute by providing a centralized platform with a wide variety of features that address both practical and emotional aspects of traveling to work. By providing traffic updates, entertainment options, rideshare opportunities, community building features, and customizable commuter survival kits, the app would transform the commute into a more enjoyable and manageable experience. This solution would improve the daily lives of commuters like me while helping companies reach their sustainability and morale goals.
Meet Rylee Zandstra
- Student at Miami University (Oxford, Ohio)
- Bachelor’s Degree in Human Capital Management and Leadership (Spring 2026)
- Master’s in Business Analytics (Spring 2027)
WDM: What was the inspiration behind your submission?
RZ: My idea for Commuter Connect was inspired by a challenge I’m currently experiencing. While I was away at college, my family moved 45 minutes north of the city, and I accepted an internship downtown, turning my summer into a daily commute. Rather than viewing this as a burden, I wanted to reimagine the experience by creating an app that transforms commuting into a fun, community-building opportunity. To make this idea a reality, I hope that my continued studies in coding and analytics will give me the practical skills to create the app and solve a problem facing myself and millions of other workers every day.
WDM: What’s next for you?
RZ: This summer, I’m working as a Business Analytics Intern at Infinite Steel Solutions in Grand Rapids, Michigan, gaining hands-on experience analyzing data and practicing strategic decision-making. I’m living at home during my internship, which allows me to spend time with family and friends. I’m also preparing to return to Miami University this fall for my junior year, where I’ll continue pursuing my studies in Business Analytics and Human Capital Management. Looking ahead, I’m excited to apply what I’ve learned this summer to my coursework and leadership roles on campus.
Commuter Connect could be coming to your city! Congrats Rylee.
The 2025 Next Work Environment Student Competition is generously supported by the following partners.
Tango is a leading provider of Integrated Workplace Management Systems (IWMS), trusted by thousands of global businesses to optimize space management, lease portfolios, facilities maintenance, and more. As the future of work continues to evolve, Tango’s innovative software helps organizations navigate this change, offering solutions for office reservation, visitor management, energy and sustainability, and construction project oversight. With a focus on flexibility and efficiency, Tango empowers businesses to stay agile in a dynamic environment, providing the insights and tools needed to make informed decisions and drive operational success.
Kimball International is a leading commercial furnishings company with deep expertise in the Workplace, Health, and Hospitality markets. For over 70 years, our brands have seized opportunities to customize solutions into personalized experiences, turning ordinary spaces into meaningful places. Our family of brands includes Kimball, National, Etc., Interwoven, David Edward, Kimball Hospitality, and D’style.
National, a brand of Kimball International, joined the contract office furniture market in 1980 with a goal to be a standout. Determined to offer customers a better value with shorter lead times, National created a brand by successfully delivering innovative products that were on budget and on time. Today, that foundation still holds true. Our exceptional value, combined with design-driven products, on-time delivery, and our dedication to customer experiences has established us as a leader in the furniture industry.
Allwork.Space is the leading digital media platform dedicated to the Future of Work. For over 20 years, we’ve provided in-depth coverage, expert insights, and innovative solutions for professionals navigating the evolving workplace landscape. Our platform serves leaders in flexible work, workplace strategy, HR, coworking, and commercial real estate, helping them stay ahead of industry trends. Through our news, research, and partnerships, we empower businesses to shape the future of work.
Special thanks to our 2025 industry Partners:
