InTouch Expands to the U.S. with Innovative Mobility Software

Increased traffic safety and fewer frustrated citizens: InTouch's software system gains traction. The young Belgian company, InTouch, saw a remarkable 108 percent growth last year. This impressive performance has prompted Fortino Capital to assist with their expansion into the United States. "The market there is thirty times larger, and automatic enforcement with cameras has just been approved. The potential is enormous."

The goal of InTouch's Software as a Service solution? To enhance traffic safety and make cities more livable. Currently, 300 Belgian municipalities use the platform. "We automate the enforcement of fines, which significantly increases efficiency," explains CEO Astrid Thienpont. "Moreover, the data provides municipalities with insights into the results of their policies, allowing them to adjust and optimize."

The benefits extend to citizens as well. "Receiving fines is never enjoyable, but the user-friendliness of our platform greatly improves the payment rate. Additionally, this fall we will launch an online portal where citizens can view the exact location and anonymized photos of their violations. This will alleviate much of the frustration."
 

Cultural Differences

InTouch's 108 percent growth last year was partly due to its quicker-than-expected international expansion, including into Greece. "A growth rate that doubles without being loss-making is impressive," says Alexandra de Klerk, Investment Manager at Fortino Capital, which took a majority stake in InTouch in June. "Moreover, the future vision of CEOs Astrid Thienpont and Tom De Winne aligns perfectly with ours."

With Fortino's support, InTouch's expansion into the United States is underway. "Now is the ideal time," says Thienpont. "Since President Biden launched his trillion-dollar infrastructure plan, investments in traffic safety and road infrastructure are high on the agenda. A new law allowing automatic enforcement with cameras has just been approved. However, the cameras there often lack sophisticated software. This presents opportunities for partnerships. The U.S. market is thirty times larger than ours," says de Klerk. "Americans own more vehicles on average and there's significant urbanization. Moreover, the number of accidents has increased in recent years, leading to a greater focus on enforcement. There is immense potential." InTouch will benefit from Fortino's expertise. "We have extensive know-how in practical matters—where to establish headquarters, when to hire people—but also in cultural differences between states and regulations."
 

Operational Support

InTouch remains focused on maintaining its market leadership in Belgium. "The team now consists of thirty people, and we need to expand," says de Klerk. "We want to scale the successes currently achieved, such as in sales, by introducing processes and hiring the right people. Additionally, we are exploring how to incorporate AI to make the product even more relevant for our clients."

For Thienpont and her co-CEO, Fortino’s involvement is a significant asset. "Until now, we have taken on too many operational tasks ourselves. Fortino helps us find the people who can relieve us of these tasks. It’s clear that this allows us to operate at a higher level."

Based on article in De Tijd