Solving OEM overstock challenges: how BEIC transforms inventory

Solving OEM overstock challenges: how BEIC transforms inventory
BEIC: Transforming inventory management and solving OEM overstock challenges.

The lack of transparency in the bicycle industry's supply chain inspired Pieter Jan Rijpstra, a former Accell Western Europe manager, to launch BEIC. This OEM trading platform addresses excess inventory and missing components, improving stock visibility, cash flow, and sustainability while streamlining operations for businesses in the bicycle industry.

BEIC is exclusively aimed at bicycle brands and manufacturing or assembling companies.Many businesses are burdened with large quantities of stock that tie up working capital and lose value over time due to revisions,” says Rijpstra. “Storing, handling, and moving this inventory also incurs significant costs, and it’s often not where it's needed when it's needed. Managing surplus inventory becomes a distraction, pulling focus from core business activities. Despite having large stockpiles, manufacturers may still find themselves missing critical parts to complete products, such as bicycles, further complicating the supply chain.”

Marketplace

Traditional solutions to this issue—selling stock at a huge loss or shredding it—are neither financially nor environmentally sustainable. BEIC offers an alternative by providing a marketplace where businesses can sell obsolete OEM stock at fairer prices to buyers who need it. This helps optimize stock levels, recover value, and reduce waste, benefitting both profitability and sustainability.

Automatic updates make it easier to stay informed about specific components on BEIC.
Automatic updates make it easier to stay informed about specific components on BEIC.

Tangible advantages

Subscribing to the BEIC platform delivers tangible advantages. Rijpstra: “It improves cash flow by converting overstock into revenue and reduces logistics costs by minimizing the need for extra storage and handling. You can sell your stock at better prices without brokers, capturing more value directly. We also help reduce lead times by providing quicker access to stock compared to long overseas shipments, like those from Asia.”

The platform accelerates assembly processes—allowing you to quickly source missing parts, which boosts turnover and helps fulfill orders faster. In terms of sustainability, BEIC offers a greener solution by reducing the need for wasteful dumping. Plus, with everything managed through a centralized platform, it simplifies your inventory process, saves time, and promotes a more sustainable, efficient supply chain.

BEIC speeds up assembly by enabling quick sourcing of missing parts.
BEIC speeds up assembly by enabling quick sourcing of missing parts.

New functionalities

“We're excited to be rolling out some new functionalities based on the feedback we've received from our users,” Rijpstra continues. “One of the key things we want to do is make it easier for users to manage their posts on the platform. In the coming weeks, we'll be adding two major features to streamline the process. First, we're introducing a new download file option. This allows users to download a file containing all the data of their posted articles. This way, users can easily compare their BEIC inventory with their own stock or data, making management more seamless.”

“Second, we're developing a feature where users can download a file that contains just a selection of their own posts. They can then make updates directly in the file and upload it back to the platform to modify existing posts all at once. This will save a lot of time since they won't have to update posts individually anymore. Lastly, we’ve made navigation improvements to create a smoother, more efficient user experience.”

Progress

BEIC has been online for two months. “I’m very pleased with the progress we’ve made, both in subscriber numbers and transaction activity. I’m confident we can easily reach 30-40 subscribers by the end of the year.”

This article is sponsored by BEIC.

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