On March 10, 2026, the Cluster Mobility & Logistics hosted a virtual meeting of the Bicycle Industry Working Group. The approximately one-hour online event once again served as a platform for professional exchange within the industry and provided an opportunity to discuss current trends in digitalization, data management, and cooperation along the bicycle industry’s value chain.
The main focus of the event was a presentation by Nick Becker (DiBike) on the Bike-X project, which is being implemented jointly by the Collaborating Centre on Sustainable Consumption and Production (CSCP), Fraunhofer FIT, and DiBike. The project’s goal is to investigate and conceptually develop an open and interoperable data ecosystem for the bicycle industry. The central question is how different types of data—from product data to service and repair information to market data—can be better structured, exchanged, and utilized in the future.
The presentation began by examining the current state of the industry. Many companies are already working with digital interfaces and standards; however, data structures are often fragmented or usable only within individual systems. Against this backdrop, Bike-X is examining international reference models for data ecosystems and analyzing which approaches can be applied to the bicycle industry.
A key aspect of the project is the development of a practical vision for a shared data ecosystem that aligns with the industry’s structures. Existing industry standards such as Veloconnect and BIDEX will be taken into account and integrated in a meaningful way. At the same time, care is being taken to avoid creating unnecessary complexity. Unlike in highly regulated industries, the goal is not to create a system that fully replicates the structure of large data ecosystems such as Catena-X. Instead, the focus is on a lean, industry-tailored solution that offers concrete added value for manufacturers, retailers, and service partners.
The speaker went on to outline potential use cases for such a data ecosystem. These include, among other things, more efficient product data flows between manufacturers and retailers, improved availability of repair and service data, and new opportunities for analyzing market trends. A collaborative approach could help improve information flows throughout the entire value chain and strengthen cooperation within the industry.
The ensuing discussion showed that the topic of data interoperability is becoming increasingly important in the bicycle industry. Projects such as Bike-X can lay an important foundation by identifying practical structures and standards.
The virtual meeting of the Bicycle Industry Working Group confirmed the format’s importance as a platform for knowledge transfer and networking. Through insights from research and practice, participants gain perspectives on current developments and can discuss opportunities for joint initiatives. Moving forward, these regular exchanges will continue to contribute to the collaborative advancement of key topics.