Christiane Varga

Christiane Varga works as a trend and futurologist in Vienna and deals with the different facets of the question "How will we live in the future?". She is a lecturer and author of numerous publications. She studied sociology at the Ludwig-Maximilians-University in Munich and today teaches the subject "Design Research" at the FH Joanneum in Graz. She is convinced: In order to deal with a complex present - and future - silo thinking is passé.

Elsa Homann, GfK

Elsa Homann, Mobility Expert at GfK, analyzes current macro trends and provides data-based insights on how retailers and manufacturers can set themselves up for success in these volatile times.

Frank Föge, Zuora

Frank Föge is Country Manager Germany & Austria at Zuora. His expertise in the consulting environment and his IT and software know-how make him a sought-after contact for digital transformation. Zuora is a specialist for cloud-based subscription management solutions that enable companies to manage their subscription data. 

Tyler Benedict, Bike Club

Tyler created and built Bikerumor.com into the world's largest cycling tech blog. Now, he's bringing his deep industry connections, digital content expertise, and years of consumer product marketing experience to Bike Club. As co-founder, Tyler is leading the charge on the first-ever fully decentralized global cycling community, leveraging WEB3 tech to create the future of cycling clubs, free & open to all, without gatekeepers, where riders own their privacy & build value by riding their bikes.  

SUPPLY CHAIN

Moving production back to Europe is a widely-discussed topic that has gained traction during the coronavirus pandemic. Rising transport costs, longer delivery times, raw material shortages or broken agreements with suppliers – there is a long list of acute problems. Not to mention political changes, such as Germany’s new supply chain legislation whose implications remain as yet unclear, rising wages in Asia and China’s environmental policy. Production in Portugal, Slovakia, Poland and Bulgaria is expected to solve many of the problems. However, will these changes be able to cope with the next major impact? What is the economic outlook for raw materials and production trends? 

MOBILITY AND MOBILITYMIX 

Is there still potential to develop bikes further? Digital networking is now a major factor in the world of two-wheeled transport. Digital natives are connecting bikes in new and innovative ways. Mobility is a service, and bikes need to be in the right place at the right time. Bikes and e-bikes are just one ingredient in the new mobility mix. Sharing is the future! But who will be behind it? Is the automotive industry going to discover bikes? And what role will bikes play in the world of autonomous transport? The future is wide open – to be discussed.

MOBILITY 2025

The various restrictions in the general mobility behaviour in the wake of the CORONA pandemic have brought many people back on their bikes. Even during the lockdown, in various countries many bicycle workshops were allowed to be open, to at least secure bicycle mobility. During this time the bicycle infrastructure was adapted and modified in many cities and municipalities in an unbureaucratic and uncomplicated manner. Development, planning and implementation that would otherwise have taken month and years were done within a couple of days. The bicycle has now gained system relevance. How will this development change mobility overall in the next few years and what will it look like?  Read more about the increase of traffic here.

BIKE BIZ 2025

Supply and demand - even during the CORONA pandemic, bicycle sales continue to climb steeply. And the stationary bicycle retail is experiencing a small renaissance - long queues in front of the bicycle shops are not uncommon. Whether it is the small stationary specialized retailer, online retailers, marketplaces, direct-to-customer retailers or other platforms, many of them have difficulty coping with the increasing demand. At the same time, Decathlon is opening one megastore after another, regardless of the current situation. Anyone looking into the future will ask themselves about who will be the winners and losers of the crisis. How will retail change in the coming years? Which distribution channels and platforms will establish themselves and who will use them and how - Decathlon, Rose, BICO or even Google, Amazon, Alibaba or will the stationary bicycle retailers prevail? Read more about the cycling retail in times of CORONA here.