How many bikes have we sold in the last 12 months? Which areas went well, which didn't? Which suppliers were good, where did problems arise? Which bikes do we still have in stock?

When you think about which bikes to order for the coming model year in the bike store, a few questions pop up. And to answer them correctly, you need a solid data basis (aka operating software) and a good dose of honesty.

When placing a pre-order, there are always many future events that are difficult to predict. What kind of bikes do customers want in the future? Which exact models? What sizes? Which price categories? Which colors? Which manufacturers can actually deliver? In times of massive delivery problems, it can also happen like this: You put a lot of thought into which bikes to order. You order them too... and then they are simply never delivered. This is tedious, but ironically motivates you not to take the whole ordering process quite so seriously.

How to equalize the ordering process

One thing is certain: selling bikes is more fun than ordering them. At the same time, it's as sure as the Amen in church: without pre-orders, the store remains empty and nothing is sold. So the pre-order remains a necessary evil. After all, manufacturers need to get a clear indication from retailers of where the journey, or rather the order volume, is heading. Incidentally, manufacturers are by no means spared from pre-orders. They have to order the required frames and components for at least two to three years, and the trend is rising, before they are delivered.

There are also efforts to reduce the pre-order chaos. This is easily possible with a model cycle that is not based on a one-year rhythm. It is easier to calculate with so-called continuous models. This has advantages for customers, as they have an up-to-date bike for longer. And manufacturers and specialist retailers are less trapped in the hamster wheel of tight product cycles.