Bikebook: The Key to Modern Bike Shop Management?

This piece first appeared in the March edition of BikeBiz magazine – not subscribed? Get a free subscription.

What started as a platform for cyclists to find local mechanics has grown into much more. Officially launched in 2022, Bikebook released their workshop management tool ‘Workshop’ in April 2024.

Sitting down to listen to the presentation hosted by Co-Founder, Jake Fieldsend at iceBike*, it was clear that a lot of time, research and user feedback has gone into creating their software.

The platform has now launched in Europe, thanks to increasing international interest, and there are plans to continue expansion into other areas.

In a nutshell, the software helps mechanics and workshops manage everything from booking in jobs to communicating with customers. BikeBiz sat down with Jake to talk more about what Workshop offers, the problems it solves, and the future of bike repair. 

Imagine I’m a busy bike mechanic, swamped with repairs and struggling to keep up with admin. Convince me why I should sign up for Bikebook. What’s in it for me?

Most businesses without a streamlined system can easily get bogged down with admin, whether it’s keeping up with enquiries, talking customers through quotes, or generating accurate invoices. For bike repair businesses, revenue only comes from servicing bikes, so admin time is wasted time. The real cost to the business is the time lost that could have been spent fixing bikes. 

Our software is designed to work seamlessly in a workshop, helping you cut down the time spent managing enquiries, generating invoices, and explaining quotes to customers. That means you can get through more services and bring in more revenue. 

Have you encountered any scepticism or resistance from mechanics who are used to traditional ways of doing things? How have you addressed those concerns? 

Of course, a lot of businesses have been running traditional workshops, and in any scenario, moving to a new system is daunting and a massive upheaval of the business processes. And I think if you are just left to your own devices to move anything over, it can be a minefield of confusion and stress, worried about not transferring your business correctly. 

Our process is always to help out in any way we can to take the burden off the shop. We will help with everything from getting information added into the system, setting up services, and training the whole team, so the stress of moving is minimised as much as possible. 

Tell us about Workshop and its key features? Your elevator pitch if you will.. 

Bikebook is a free platform connecting cyclists with qualified bike mechanics, showcasing their services and prices, to facilitate and provide confidence in finding the perfect partner for any repair need. 

For retailers with workshops, and mechanics looking to take their business to the next level, Workshop by bikebook offers a comprehensive solution to manage bookings, inventory, payments, and more – all in one place. Saving time, increasing revenues, and elevating customer satisfaction. 

If I’m a bike shop owner already using another workshop management system, why should I consider switching to Workshop, how are you different from competitors?

We strive to go above and beyond being just a piece of back-end software that provides no additional value beyond running the business. We also actively work to bring shops more business. 

Whether that’s through direct bookings from new customers via the bikebook search, or through our fast-growing list of partners, such as Hygge Bikes and Skarper, who use shops within our workshop network as their approved service providers, sending workshop jobs directly to them. 

Does Bikebook integrate with any platforms or services that help mechanics with parts ordering? 

One of our main goals is to make Workshop integrable with almost all systems currently used by shops. Being able to seamlessly slot the platform into an existing tech stack, rather than requiring a complete system replacement, makes implementation far less demanding and stressful for businesses. 

This approach also provides customers with the flexibility to continue using other systems they are already comfortable with. 

What features are you looking to add in future? 

Our ethos is customer-led; every feature we’ve built over the past two years has been based on customer feedback. Furthermore, the core objective of our platform is to streamline business operations for our customers. Therefore, our focus will always be on adding features that minimise administrative tasks, allowing more time for servicing bikes. 

Can you share any surprising or unexpected insights you’ve gained from the data collected through Bikebook? What has this taught you about the industry?

One of the most surprising insights we’ve gathered is that many customers are unsure about what actually needs to be done to their bike. Often, they book a service based on what they think is wrong, but once the mechanic inspects the bike, the required work turns out to be different, sometimes more extensive, sometimes completely unrelated. 

This highlights a key industry challenge: the gap between customer perception and mechanical expertise. It has reinforced the importance of clear communication and diagnostic processes between mechanics and riders. Many customers benefit from guided recommendations or structured service descriptions, helping them better understand their bike’s needs. 

Looking ahead, what trends do you see shaping the future of bike repair? 

I think one of the biggest trends shaping the future of bike repair is the growing importance of service-led businesses. With margins on bike and accessory sales getting tighter, we’ve seen that shops with a strong focus on servicing, or those that operate purely as service businesses, have continued to thrive, even in tough market conditions. 

As online sales and direct-to-consumer models become more dominant, the shops that will do well are the ones that double down on quality repairs, great customer service, and convenience. It’s for this reason that we’ve started working with a number of D2C brands to help them establish a network of shops, from registered workshops to act as their approved service providers around the country. 

I also think we’ll see more investment in technology that makes it easier for mechanics to manage bookings, diagnose issues, and communicate with customers, helping to make the whole process smoother for everyone. 

What’s next for Bikebook? What can we expect to see from you in the next few years?

Over the next few years, we’re aiming to expand beyond the UK into Europe, the US, Australia, and Asia, bringing our platform to a much wider audience. We’ve seen how much value Bikebook and Workshop can add to the bike repair industry, and we believe there’s a real opportunity to support mechanics and businesses globally. 

Beyond that, we’re also looking at how our platform can be adapted to support other industries that rely on service-based bookings. The core idea: making it easier for businesses to manage bookings, communicate with customers, and streamline operations, has potential far beyond bike repair. 

So, in short, expect to see Bikebook growing internationally and evolving to help even more businesses thrive!