A version of this article ran in the May issue of Bicycle Retailer & Industry News.
BRIGHTON, United Kingdom (BRAIN) — Bikebook, a free online platform that helps consumers find bike service businesses, has come to the U.S. and Canada. Bikebook also is offering North American retailers its Workshop platform, which has tech department management features as well as POS, inventory management, Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and messaging features such as sending automated messages or emails to customers about outcoming appointments or suggesting it’s time for a tune-up.
Customers can book appointments directly through the Bikebook platform.
Bikebook began as a platform that helped cyclists find places to get their bikes fixed, especially small independent service providers.
Now more than 400 U.K. businesses are using bikebook’s Workshop platform, which can be integrated with Lightspeed and other POS systems.
Bikebook’s service directory platform is free. The Workshop management system is $89 per month, with a free trial available. There is no multi-month contract so businesses can pause or cancel the platform service at any time.
“North America presents a really exciting prospect for Workshop by bikebook, with the majority of businesses using expensive and non-cycling specific alternatives to manage their workflows,” said bikebook co-founder Ryan Elson. “We’re presenting a much more cost-effective tool tailored specifically to their needs, which can be quickly and easily integrated.”
Bikebook has signed a partnership agreement with the National Bicycle Dealers Association that will provide NBDA members with discounted services, consulting, and enhanced community interaction. Bikebook also said it will support the NBDA's upcoming mechanic certification program.
In collaboration with the NBDA, bikebook will conduct bi-monthly panel discussions to deliver management insights to mechanics and produce podcast episodes with NBDA representatives, highlighting the strategic importance of software solutions for business optimisation.
The company also said it hopes to work with service schools in the U.S. to develop Bikebench and Workshop training modules within the technical training.
Co-founder Jake Fieldsend told BRAIN that the company has worked to make the system compatible with North American dealers with proper currencies, date and time formats.
