Frequently Asked Questions
Companies
What is Pôdo for businesses and how does it work?
Pôdo offers companies flexible access to work pods through an hour bank or balance that employees use via the app. Management, payments, and billing are centralized for the organization.
How do I hire?
Hiring is done by contacting the Pôdo team to design a solution tailored to each company's needs.
How is Pôdo used?
The user downloads the app, registers, selects a capsule, makes a reservation, and accesses it with their mobile phone.
Is it necessary to use the app?
Yes. The app is essential for booking, accessing the capsules, and managing the service.
How do reservations work?
Reservations are made in 30-minute blocks, with a maximum duration of 2 hours. They can be made up to 7 days in advance and extended if availability permits.
How do you get in and out of the capsule?
Access is granted from the app during the reserved time slot. Exit can be done using the interior button or the app itself. Multiple entries and exits are permitted during an active reservation.
What do the capsules include?
They have a desk, an ergonomic seat, lighting, ventilation, power outlets, Wi-Fi, and a control tablet.
Are they comfortable and private?
Yes. They feature professional sound insulation and active ventilation to ensure comfort and privacy during use.
Is audio or video recorded inside the capsules?
No, Podo does not record or store audio or video, and there are no cameras inside the pods.
How does billing work?
Invoices can be requested from the app, include VAT according to current regulations, and can be issued with company data.
Is there customer service?
Yes. Support is available through the app to resolve issues with access, bookings, payments, or technical questions.
Users
What is Pôdo?
Pôdo is a network of private, soundproof pods located in spaces like airports, stations, hotels, offices, or shopping malls. It's designed so you can work, make video calls, or have meetings with more peace of mind when you're away from your usual environment, and everything is managed through the app.
Who is it intended for?
For professionals, students, or anyone needing privacy, focus, or a suitable space for calls, video calls, or getting tasks done on the go.
What problem does it solve?
Solve a very specific need: having a private and professional space when you are not at home, in the office, or at your usual location.
How do I use Pôdo?
You download the app, register, choose the capsule that best suits you on the map, book your slot, and access it with your mobile. The process is designed so you can complete it quickly and without unnecessary steps.
Is it mandatory to use the app?
Yes. The app is necessary to manage the reservation, access, and use of the service.
How do reservations work?
Reservations are organized in 30-minute blocks. You can book up to 7 days in advance and, if available, extend your session directly from the app. The maximum duration of a reservation is 2 hours.
What happens if I arrive late or leave early?
If you arrive late, your reservation remains active, but the time is not recovered. If you leave early, you can do so without issue, although that time is not refunded.
How do I get into the capsule?
Access from the app within your reserved slot. Your phone works as an access key, so you don't need a reception, physical keys, or contact with staff.
Can I go in and out multiple times during my reservation?
Yes. As long as your reservation is active, you can enter and exit the capsule.
What's inside a capsule?
Each capsule features a table, ergonomic seating, lighting, ventilation, power outlets, Wi-Fi, and a control tablet to adjust certain space parameters.
Are they soundproofed?
Yes. The pods are designed with professional insulation for a high level of acoustic privacy.
Do you have ventilation?
Yes. The ventilation is active and constant. Additionally, you can regulate the light and ventilation from the tablet, although the latter cannot be turned off for safety reasons.
Can I eat or drink inside?
Eating is not allowed. Drinking is permitted, but always with care.
How is a reservation paid for?
Payment is made directly from the app at the time of booking confirmation. Currently, it's done via bank card through a secure gateway.
Can I cancel or modify a booking?
Yes. You can cancel or modify your reservation from the app, as long as there is availability. The refund depends on when you cancel: in some cases the amount returns to your wallet and in others no refund applies.
What is the coin purse?
This is the virtual balance associated with your account. It can be used on future bookings and can be generated through cancellations within the allowed timeframe or through promotions. This balance does not expire, but it cannot be withdrawn as cash.
What are Pôdo points and what are they used for?
It is a rewards system associated with the use of the service and good behavior. Points can be redeemed for free slots, and the website indicates that 5 points are equivalent to 30 minutes of use.
Are my conversations private?
Yes. The pods are designed to ensure acoustic privacy, and Pôdo states that it does not record or store audio or video inside them. There are also no cameras inside.
Is it safe to use a capsule?
Yes. The website indicates that the capsules are designed for safe use in public spaces, that you can always exit from the inside, and that even in the event of a power outage, the door opening is not blocked.
What do I do if I have an access problem or an incident?
You can contact support directly from the app. We also recommend reaching out to Pôdo support if you have technical issues or questions about your reservation, payment, or access to the capsule.
What is Pôdo Scout?
It's a program that allows anyone to propose new locations for capsule installations. If a proposal actually becomes a real location, it can provide access to rewards linked to usage or other benefits.
Partners
What is Pôdo and what can it bring to my space?
Pôdo is a network of private, soundproof pods designed for working, making video calls, or holding meetings in privacy. For a business, it offers a way to repurpose underutilized spaces, introduce a premium service, and enhance the experience for customers, visitors, or employees without complicating daily operations.
What does my business gain by incorporating a Pôdo capsule?
Your space gains a new revenue-generating opportunity, enhances its value proposition, and differentiates itself with a useful, flexible service aligned with new ways of working and moving. In Pôdo's collaboration proposal, these benefits are grouped into four pillars: revenue generation, space optimization, improved user experience, and differentiation.
Do I need to do renovations or adapt the premises?
No. The installation is designed to be quick and easy. The capsule is installed in less than 2 hours, without construction work or structural modifications, and only requires a standard electrical outlet.
Does daily operations rest on my team?
No. Usage is automated so the establishment doesn't have to manage reservations, keys, or manual access. The user books from the app, enters with their mobile, and when finished, the capsule automatically locks and ventilates to be ready for the next use.
Who is responsible for the maintenance and control of the service?
Pôdo takes over the operational management of the service. The system includes 24/7 remote monitoring, maintenance alerts, automatic locking between uses, and simplified basic maintenance, so that the partner does not have to add to their daily operational workload.
What does my space need to be able to integrate a capsule?
Integration is lightweight. Generally, you need a suitable location, an electrical outlet, and an environment where the pod can provide utility to the user. Additionally, Pôdo is available in different formats, such as ONE Compact and FOUR, to better adapt to each type of space.
Pôdo fits into:
* **Homes:** Living rooms, bedrooms, offices, kitchens, dining areas, children's rooms.
* **Hospitality:** Hotels, Bed & Breakfasts, guesthouses, hostels, vacation rentals.
* **Commercial Spaces:** Cafes, restaurants, bars, shops, boutiques, waiting rooms, offices, co-working spaces, showrooms.
* **Healthcare:** Doctor's offices, therapy rooms, waiting rooms, spas, wellness centers.
* **Educational Institutions:** Libraries, study areas, common rooms.
* **Public Spaces:** Lobbies, lounges, community centers.
Pôdo can be integrated into a wide variety of locations: airports, hotels, trade shows, shopping malls, clinics, universities, stations or cultural centers, among others. More than the sector, what's important is that there is a flow of people and a clear need for privacy, concentration, or on-the-go work.
Does the capsule affect the aesthetics or identity of the establishment?
It shouldn't. Pôdo is designed as a carefully considered, discreet, and adaptable solution for various environments, intended to integrate without generating a negative visual impact and maintaining the establishment's image.
Can it be moved or relocated if the space layout changes?
Yes. Pôdo's documentation includes options that facilitate the mobility and relocation of the capsule, allowing it to be adapted to layout changes or operational needs of the establishment.
How do I know if my location fits with Pôdo?
Pôdo analyzes each location and proposes a solution adapted to the environment, the type of user, and the objectives of the space. The idea is not to implement a standard solution anywhere, but to first assess if there is a fit and what format might work best.
What experience does it offer the end-user?
The user finds the capsule from the app, books it in seconds, and accesses it with their mobile phone. Inside, they have a comfortable, quiet, and private space with a table, ergonomic seat, active ventilation, optimized lighting, connectivity, and outlets, designed for working or making video calls in better conditions.
Why might this be an interesting opportunity for my local business right now?
Because it addresses an increasingly pressing need: having private, flexible spaces in shared environments. In a world of hybrid work and constant mobility, Pôdo makes it possible to transform underutilized space into a premium service that benefits users and enhances the establishment’s offerings.
