How Cyclis Bike Lease Began
Cyclis Bike Lease was founded in 2014 by Bart Criel, Joep Kempen, Gie Kempen, and Geoffrey Van Der Holt. Bart, with a background as a Project Engineer and Business Strategist, saw a unique opportunity in the emerging bike leasing market. What began as a shared passion for cycling and a vision to promote sustainable mobility evolved into an innovative business venture.
"We quickly noticed a growing demand in Belgium for flexible and sustainable mobility solutions, especially among companies looking to offer their employees a more attractive mobility package."
A Digital-First Mindset and Introduction to Odoo
One of the keys to Cyclis Bike Lease's success was their early adoption of a “digital-first” mindset. Bart and Geoffrey quickly realized that to scale their business efficiently, they needed a strong digital foundation from the start. This meant automating and digitizing their business processes to facilitate rapid growth.
"Odoo was a logical step. It offers the flexibility and scalability that Cyclis Bike Lease needed to manage our complex leasing processes. We were able to integrate various business functions, such as invoicing, customer management, and inventory management, into one platform immediately."
Thanks to the implementation of Odoo, Cyclis Bike Lease was able to optimize their processes, enabling them to scale quickly and expand their fleet. This digital foundation played a crucial role in their rapid growth and the successful rollout of their bike leasing program.
The Need for External Expertise to Ensure a Successful Implementation
As Cyclis Bike Lease began to grow, it quickly became apparent that they needed external expertise to further develop and optimize their digital infrastructure. This led to their partnership with Dynapps, a leading expert in Odoo implementations.
Dynapps played an essential role in the digital transformation of Cyclis Bike Lease. They helped fine-tune the Odoo implementation and ensured that all processes ran smoothly, even as the company began to grow rapidly. Thanks to Dynapps, Cyclis Bike Lease was able to elevate their digital strategy to a higher level.
The Challenges of Scaling a Business
"Scaling is not just about doing more; it's about working smarter, streamlining processes, and always improving."
Scaling a business always comes with challenges, and Cyclis Bike Lease was no exception. Where they initially managed a fleet of just a few hundred bikes, they had to adjust their processes to handle a fleet of over 30,000 bikes.
Cyclis Bike Lease overcame these challenges by strategically investing in their digital infrastructure and working closely with their partners. Their scalable approach and focus on automation ensured that they not only grew but also solidified their position as a market leader.
Customer-Centric Approach
The story of Cyclis Bike Lease is an inspiring example of how a strong idea, combined with the right digital strategy and partnerships, can lead to great success. As Cyclis Bike Lease continues to grow and explore new markets, their focus on sustainability and innovation remains central. Their collaboration with Dynapps and the use of Odoo were crucial factors in their transformation from a start-up to a market leader.
"Our priority throughout our entire growth journey has always been the customer. By embracing digitalization and automation, we've been able to streamline processes, which contributes to stronger customer relationships. This allows our employees to focus on what truly matters."