Meet Gunther Govaerts, Business Developer at Zero Friction, our latest partner to join the Rhamnous Community.
As a community, we help connect innovative solutions with the businesses that need them most. By welcoming Zero Friction into our network, we look forward to supporting their mission to streamline the administrative processes of organisations that offer collective energy solutions.
The energy transition is a major focus in many European countries.
The Netherlands, for example, has set ambitious goals under the Climate Agreement, which mandates a 55% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 (compared to 1990 levels) and full climate neutrality by 2050.
To achieve this, 1.5 million homes and other buildings must become more sustainable and/or be disconnected from natural gas by 2030, with all buildings being completely natural gas-free by 2050.
Collective energy solutions, such as shared geothermal heating and heat and cold storage, play a key role in this transition, replacing fossil fuels with sustainable heating sources.
This transition brings challenges such as smart meter installations, new regulations, more complex billing processes, and a growing need for transparency in consumption tracking and cost allocation.
As the transition accelerates, heating and cooling suppliers, building managers, and housing corporations that offer collective energy solutions are under increasing pressure to manage these processes effectively.
Zero Friction is a young Belgian software company founded by three professionals with a long career in software development and implementation for utility companies worldwide.
They recognised the need for a simple "meter-to-cash" solution that could be implemented quickly and founded Zero Friction to fulfil that need.
Their cloud-based platform automatically processes meter data and converts it into accurate invoices. Besides automating the billing process, it also offers transparency to end users and ensures compliance with evolving energy laws.
Ultimately, it helps businesses in the energy and property sectors streamline administrative tasks, reduce errors, and save valuable time and resources.
The Zero Friction software platform automates the entire process, from meter data to a paid invoice. It processes consumption data, applies relevant rates or cost distribution, and automatically generates accurate invoices. Service costs for shared facilities such as communal spaces can be managed via the platform as well.
The system also handles payment reminders and provides end users with online insights into their energy usage and invoices. Businesses can choose between self-management or full outsourcing of the billing process. Zero Friction can also manage all related customer service processes in the client’s name.
Zero Friction serves organisations that manage energy and service costs, including heating and cooling suppliers, property managers, and housing corporations, in Belgium and beyond.
In the Netherlands and Belgium, district and communal heating and cooling systems are on the rise as part of the transition to sustainable energy.
At the same time, housing corporations—responsible for approximately 30% of homes in the Netherlands—are increasingly under pressure to shift to collective heat supply systems due to the demands of the energy transition.
Zero Friction offers a simple and efficient solution for automated billing and service cost allocation, streamlining the entire process and reducing the risk of errors. The platform also provides end users with clear insights into their energy usage, ensuring fair billing based on accurate consumption data or appropriate cost distribution. This helps users better understand their costs and make informed decisions about their energy consumption.
We’re excited to see how Zero Friction’s technology will help support the future of sustainable energy.
Get in touch today and find the right experts or partners to help you launch, manage, and grow your business!
