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Otra Solutions

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PMV-Otra

In addition to traffic jams, increasing crime along European roads and the lack of safe and decent parking facilities are major concerns for the transport industry.

Sven Bols, co-founder OTRA Solutions

Leuven-based company OTRA Solutions (Bierbeek) is developing a European digital platform to provide the international road transport sector with a solution to the growing and often distressing parking problems along major European transport axes. The platform offers drivers, companies and parking operators a real-time online parking management tool. Through this reservation application, OTRA guarantees truckers and their cargo reliable, safe and well-equipped parking on the road at any time.

Besides traffic jam problems, increasing crime along European roads and the huge shortage of safe and decent parking facilities are major concerns for the transport industry. As much as €8.2 billion worth of thefts or damage to trucks is recorded every year in Europe. Every day, 100,000 truck parking spaces are in short supply in Europe. “Many truck drivers and transport companies are exposed to risks on the road. With OTRA, we have spent the past two years extensively mapping and analysing those problems. That gave us the idea to build two platforms and an application that will provide added value to this sector that is growing in volume,” says OTRA co-founder Sven Bols.

Safer and better sleep

Today, truck drivers either do not book their rest stops or do so via mail or phone while on the road. They do so based on static data. As a result, drivers regularly find themselves in front of a full guarded car park and have to look for an alternative within the driving time still allowed. The OTRA platform makes it possible to reserve a secure truck parking space. Thanks to OTRA FLEET™, truckers and dispatchers have a real-time view of the number of available spaces in paid parking lots. A guaranteed rest area brings peace of mind and significantly changes a trucker’s daily life: safer and better sleep, less stress, less crime, assured driving and rest planning….

Ecological advantage

The OTRA software targets three user groups: truck drivers, fleet managers and parking dispatchers. Drivers and dispatchers can book and pay for a safe spot based on reliable parking information. Fleet managers of transport companies can track their cargo or truck anytime, anywhere and manage their costs. Moreover, thanks to OTRA FLEET™, they also know that their refrigerated cargo can be connected to charging stations present in the car park, which avoids running diesel engines and thus offers an ecological advantage. Finally, parking hosts or operators can use OTRA Park™ to show drivers and companies which facilities they offer but they can also manage occupancy and be sure of correct payment.

Partners in ambition at Otra Solutions

PMV’s capital participation should enable OTRA to market the platforms. Efforts are also made to create fully equipped car parks across Europe. Lieven De Jonge, Business Manager PMV: “With its unique SaaS technology, the OTRA platform offers an algorithmic solution to a pressing problem in the international transport sector. We believed in the unique platform from the start and are delighted to have been able to help the OTRA team develop the tool in the midst of a corona crisis.” Investment company Alychlo is also participating in the platform with European potential.

Investment team Otra

Emile Symons Investment manager emile.symons@pmv.eu
Lieven De Jonge Business manager Scale-ups & Industrials lieven.dejonge@pmv.eu +32 (0)2 274 63 73