Pace Car Rental is more than just a fleet. It’s one of South Africa’s most inspiring entrepreneurial stories: a journey that started with a single car and a big dream.
Grenville Salmon founded Pace by renting out his mother’s car to earn an income. What began as a side hustle turned into a remarkable growth trajectory that today includes thousands of vehicles, multiple branches across the country, accessible long term car hire, and a reputation as one of SA’s most trusted and accessible car and bakkie rental brands.
Pace stands for determination, innovation, and customer-first thinking. But with rapid expansion came new challenges. Higher transaction volumes, more risk exposure, more sophisticated fraud attempts, and the need for fast, reliable vetting to keep up with demand.
To protect the business while continuing to scale, Pace needed a partner who could match its ambition.
The Challenge: Scaling Fast Without Increasing Risk
As Pace’s footprint grew, so did the complexities of rental operations:
Walk-in customers with inconsistent documentation
Increasing fraudulent identity attempts
The need to match drivers to the right vehicle class reliably
Pressure on staff to vet customers quickly without errors
Financial risks associated with rental default and vehicle misuse
Need for automated, digital-first solutions that reduce manual onboarding
Pace required a system that could verify identity, confirm affordability, flag fraud, and speed up approvals - all in real time.
The Partnership: Bitventure as a Strategic Safety & Efficiency Layer
Pace implemented Bitventure’s verification ecosystem across their in-branch onboarding rental system.
This transformed their process into a faster, safer, and smarter experience powered by combined micro-services:
Biometric Verification Services (BVS) - Confirms the identity of the renter instantly through fingerprints.
ID Verification Services (IVS) - Identifies fraudulent IDs before a contract is signed.
Account Verification Services (AVS) - Checks that the bank account belongs to the renter.
Strike Date Optimisation (SDO) - Improves successful payment collection by identifying the customer’s optimal debit date.
These services are now a part of Pace’s daily operations, woven into the customer journey at every critical
touchpoint. Data extracted for a period of 12 months, from October 2024 to October 2025, shows a notable
increase in transaction volumes, across the micro-services.
The Impact: A Safer, Smarter, More Scalable Rental Model
The results of the Pace-Bitventure partnership are clear, meaningful, and ongoing:
1. Quicker Fraud Reduction - Fake IDs, false bank details, and impersonation attempts are flagged
instantly.
2. Faster Renter Approvals - What once required manual checks is now handled within seconds, ideal for
high-volume branches.
3. More Confident Staff, Happier Renters - Employees spend less time verifying and more time delivering
service. Renters enjoy quicker, more seamless rental experiences.
4. Protection of a Rapidly Growing Fleet - With thousands of vehicles on the road, every safe rental counts,
and Bitventure’s solution ensure those risks are proactively managed.
A Partnership That Enables Growth
Pace’s success is driven by determination, agility, and a commitment to serve an increasingly diverse
customer base. Bitventure supports that mission by ensuring that every rental begins with a foundation of
trust, security, and reliable data. Our Purpose is simple, “To do good by preventing bad things from
happening.” – Junior Biola, CEO, Bitventure Group
“Pace is all about helping you get moving and thrive in your business. We provide top-notch value for
money on vehicle rentals across South Africa. But we're not just here to get the job done. We are committed to
growing and supporting our clients, staff, and community. From leisure trips to business needs, we offer a
wide range of vehicles that make life easier for you.” – Darren Young, Brand Manager, Pace Car Rental
Together, the two companies are proving that great technology doesn’t replace human stories, it protects
them, fuels them, and allows them to scale.
Protect your business with innovative solutions.
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