In an increasingly competitive market, product digitalization has become a key factor in improving efficiency, differentiating from competitors, and accelerating business growth.

For bicycle parking manufacturers, integrating technology into their solutions—such as digital access control—is no longer an option but a necessity to remain relevant in a rapidly saturating sector.

But how can this be achieved? Is it better to develop proprietary technology or adopt white-label solutions built by third parties?

Both options have advantages and disadvantages, and the choice you make will have a significant impact on the final product, customer satisfaction, and, ultimately, your bottom line.

We have therefore produced this guide to show bicycle parking manufacturers the advantages and disadvantages of each of these options.

Why the decision to build vs. buy software matters

At Don Cicleto, with over 10 years of experience in the mobility sector, we know that becoming a market leader with a product requires significant effort.

Achieving this with both product and technology is almost impossible in an industry that is already increasingly specialised.

That’s why developing software in-house can be a costly and complex challenge when technology is not the core business of a company.

It’s not just about programming an application; it’s about building and maintaining a robust technology ecosystem, which may include:

• Hardware and sensors: Design and manufacture of connected infrastructure.
• Access control: Designing secure authentication systems.
• Mobile App & backend: Creating an intuitive interface and efficient admin panel.
• Advanced AI functions: Implement optimisation and predictive algorithms.
• Operations & maintenance: Monitoring, technical support and troubleshooting.

This process requires a multidisciplinary team with expertise in hardware, UX, back-end and front-end development, cybersecurity, data science, and more.

The investment in talent and time can be overwhelming, especially when a company needs to focus on its core product.

For this reason, many companies choose white-label solutions to move quickly and minimise risk.

Comparison: in-house development vs. white label

When deciding whether to develop software in-house or use a white label solution, there are three key factors to consider:

1. Initial investment & hidden costs

Cost is one of the most important factors in this decision.

One of the biggest myths is that developing your own software is cheaper. In reality, buying is often a cheaper and faster option.

• In-house development: Requires an initial investment of tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars in development, design and testing. There are also hidden costs associated with hiring staff, maintenance and bug fixes.
• SaaS white label: For a monthly subscription or licence fee, companies gain access to proven technology without large upfront investments or risks.

2. Maintenance & updates

Software development does not end at launch; keeping it up to date is an ongoing challenge.

• In-house development: The organisation must ensure security, scalability and continuous updates. If not updated quickly, the software can become outdated and vulnerable.
• SaaS White Label: Includes automatic enhancements, continuous updates and technical support without the need to worry about software development. Your technology partner is constantly working on new features that the market demands or innovations that might surprise users.

3. Scalability & Time to Market

Development time is a critical factor in competitiveness that will impact your bottom line.

• In-house development: Can take between 9 and 18 months to be operational, delaying time to market and increasing workload. In addition, implementation of new features can take months.
• SaaS White Label: Can be implemented in weeks, enabling immediate deployment. Scalability is faster and new features can be introduced in weeks rather than months.

How to make the best choice?

For mobility infrastructure manufacturers, where speed, security and efficiency are critical, a white label solution is often the best alternative.

Instead of spending time and resources developing technology from scratch, choosing a proven platform allows companies to focus on what really matters: growing the business and improving the user experience.

If you want to digitise your product without the risks and costs of in-house development, choosing a specialised third-party solution will give you the flexibility and scalability you need to compete successfully.

The importance of choosing the right partner

At Don Cicleto, we know the business. We have been working in the mobility sector for more than ten years. First as operators of our own bicycle parking network. Then as a manufacturer. And finally, by our own decision to focus on technology, the area where we believe we can offer more value to our customers and where we can be more competitive.

That is why we have put all the knowledge we have acquired over the years at the service of other manufacturers, so that they can concentrate on creating an excellent product without having to worry about technological development.

Don Cicleto’s technology has been tested on more than 100,000 transactions and is constantly evolving, incorporating new functionalities to improve the end user experience.

We have proven experience in developing technology solutions for all types of micro-mobility infrastructure and specialise in delivering tailored solutions that help our customers maximise the profitability and performance of their business.

From the selection of access control software to the implementation of state-of-the-art electronics, we are here to help you every step of the way.