[ITS.be welcome session]
Last week at ITS.be 2025, Belgium’s biggest smart mobility meetup, innovators, operators, and tech leaders came together to reimagine how we move. The energy was clear: financial sustainability and collaboration are at the heart of building better journeys for everyone.
From Belgium’s exploration of a hybrid approach to connect transport networks, to Switzerland’s collaborative model and the Netherlands’ nationwide open-loop network, it’s exciting to see how Europe is stepping up to make seamless travel a reality - and how Kuba fits right into that story.
Belgium’s next step: coordinating for seamless travel
Belgium is exploring hybrid and cooperative approaches that would improve coordination between operators and simplify national travel, with pilot EMV rollouts already underway in some cities.
With this growing focus on enabling interoperability, the broader European trend toward hybrid payment systems will play a part. Systems that accept both local transit cards as well as open-loop options will simplify fare payments in both cities and regions.
Lessons from Switzerland: collaboration by design
Switzerland stands as a model of legally and operationally mandated collaboration. Federal and regional transport laws ensure that public transport operators work together for fairer and more consistent user experiences.
In Zurich, for example, the ZVV coordination model brings dozens of agencies under one framework, managing shared timetables, common passenger information, and unified ticketing policies. The result is a system built on shared governance and fairness, with a focus on user benefit rather than competition.
Insights from the Netherlands: the power of nationwide integration
The Netherlands’ rollout of OVpay, a nationwide open-loop ticketing programme, shows what true integration can achieve. With OVpay, passengers can tap in and out using their contactless bank card, mobile wallet, or existing OV-chipkaart to travel anywhere in the country - no separate apps or tickets required. The initiative, supported by all major Dutch public transport operators, demonstrates how national collaboration and open payments can deliver a consistent, seamless experience for every traveller.
Kuba at ITS.be: The Case for Flexible Integration
[Kuba’s session featuring Michel Genot in theater +2]
In the afternoon, Kuba’s Michel Genot joined the panel session on payments, ticketing and fraud prevention. The conversation focused on the benefits of open-loop and account-based ticketing (ABT). The key takeaway? There should always be flexibility in the level of integration so that cities and operators get what works best for them, not just a one-size-fits-all solution.
Kuba’s modular mobility platform empowers cities and operators to adopt the technology layers they need, from contactless payments to Mobility-as-a-Service integrations, all powered by its ABT engine. This adaptability means that authorities can meet evolving user expectations while maintaining control over their fare structures and data.
A financially stable and fair mobility future
The ITS.be Congress reminded participants that the success of intelligent transport solutions depends not just on technology, but on financial fairness and operational collaboration. Seamless travel, equitable fare sharing, and open architecture are not just goals - they’re the foundation for modern mobility, already being implemented across Europe.
As mobility ecosystems become more connected, Kuba remains committed to supporting operators, authorities, and passengers with solutions that unify, simplify, and sustain public transport systems.
