Harley-Davidson's Pipeline Logistics Concept: Review, Challenges and Outlook
Harley-Davidson dealers want a return to a transparent system to better serve customers.
With the pipeline logistics concept, Harley-Davidson once created a modern, innovative system that offered enormous advantages to dealers across Europe. It allowed them to view the importer's inventory in real time and order directly. This enabled retailers to provide their customers with precise and customer-oriented advice. Delivery times could be planned transparently and reliably.
Another advantage: dealers had insight into machines that were in production (“in production”), including the expected completion date, as well as machines that had already been produced and were on the way to the European central warehouse (“on water”) . This transparency made work easier and strengthened customer loyalty.
This innovative logistics system made it possible to network retailers transparently and efficiently.
Challenges and an unexpected system change
The retailers were happy with this concept, but it also presented challenges. A few retailers took advantage of the system to place so-called “hamster orders” when popular models or colors became visible in the pipeline. This gave them unfair advantages over other traders who worked reputably. Nevertheless, the belief remains that these weaknesses could have been remedied with small adjustments without calling the entire concept into question.
Other brands, including Triumph, have even adopted Harley-Davidson's pipeline system - a testament to its innovative strength and efficiency. It was all the more surprising that Harley-Davidson abolished the concept against the will of the dealers and replaced it with the “Managed Supply” system.
“The pipeline logistics concept not only enabled an overview of inventory levels, but also helped to fulfill individual customer requests more quickly.”
Global markets thrive on a continuous and always up-to-date flow of information
Managed Supply: A system with massive weaknesses
The managed supply system meant a significant step backwards for retailers and customers. Instead of influencing the model, color and equipment themselves, they were assigned machines. This allocation often resulted in dealers not purchasing unsuitable machines, while other dealers urgently needed exactly these models - but had no information about their availability.
The result: inventories in the central warehouse grew, and Harley-Davidson's field sales employees were increasingly busy organizing redistributions between dealers. This additional effort caused dissatisfaction on all sides.
Return to more transparency
Harley-Davidson has now recognized that eliminating the pipeline system was a mistake and is now gradually working toward a return to a more transparent system. Dealers can now view the stocks of other dealers again and inquire directly whether a particular machine is being sold. Transport is at your own expense.
What is still missing is complete transparency about the stocks in the central warehouse, machines in production and those that are on the water. This information would be essential for retailers to plan efficiently and offer their customers optimal service. However, this important step has not yet been taken.
A relevant interview with Harley-Davidson Europe boss Kolja Rebstock
The vision is a modern logistics concept for the future
Dealers want to see a return to a system consistent with the original pipeline concept, with full transparency on unsold stock vehicles, production vehicles and vehicles on their way to Europe. This transparency is the key to serving customers as needed and making the dealer network more efficient.
Such a system would be in everyone’s interest – the dealers, the customers and ultimately also the importer. Harley-Davidson has proven in the past that it can be a pioneer in innovation. There is great hope that an improved logistics concept will be implemented at the beginning of 2025 that builds on the strengths of the pipeline system and at the same time eliminates possible weak points. This is the only way Harley-Davidson can continue to meet the demands of everyone involved in the future.
“A full return to the pipeline system would not only benefit retailers but also customers in the long term.“
December 3, 2024 – Harley conversion from England wins European Custombike Championship
From November 29th to December 1st, 2024, Bad Salzuflen was once again dominated by the European custom bike scene. More than 21,000 visitors flocked to the East Westphalian city not to miss the largest trade fair for converted motorcycles on the continent. With three exhibition halls, over 23,000 square meters of exhibition space, around 186 international exhibitors and 252 spectacular custom bikes from all over Europe, the CUSTOMBIKE show has once again set standards.
For the first time, a moped build-off was held in Bad Salzuflen. During two days of the trade fair, the Töffliheizer Ostfriesland and the VEB-Design team fought an exciting duel, which the VEB-Design team narrowly won with their “Interflug Schwalbe” after a dramatic finale. They entered the trade fair history books as the first winners of the “German Räng-Däng-Däng-Build-Off”.
European Biker Build-Off: Exciting screwdriver duel
Things got a lot bigger at the European Biker Build-Off. Two custom bikes were set up on the large show stage in front of the audience. The teams from USM Motorcycles from Germany and Vhard Motorworks from Poland fought a close duel. USM impressed with a gold-red racer based on an Indian Sport Scout, while Vhard Motorworks opted for a matt black Harley-Davidson Softail with gold leaf details. In the end, USM won with a narrow majority of 48 votes - the title went to a conversion based on an Indian for the third year in a row.
European Custombike Championship: Victory for England
The European championship title and the prize money of 12,000 euros went to England this year. Vic Jefford and his wife Lin impressed with their “Platinum”, a home-built Harley V2 with impressive technical details such as battery-operated drum brakes in the rear wheel hub. The victory was considered deserved by all participants.
Further highlights of the CUSTOMBIKE show 2024
• Charity projects : Various projects collected donations for charitable purposes. These include the “Patchwork Bike” and the “Fukker 2.0”, the proceeds of which went to children with cancer.
• Supporting program : Spectacular shows, including the FUEL GIRLS with their fire show, Jagath Perera in the steep wall and musical performances by Jimmy Cornett.
• Special exhibition : “60 years of Simson Schwalbe” with the 92-year-old designer Erhard Werner, who shared anecdotes and autographs.
Winners of the European Custombike Championship 2024:
• Craziest Bike : Homemade with Suzuki GS 500 drive – Krystian Winzer (Poland)
• Best Moped : Innocenti Lambretta Li 150 – Christian Schneider (Germany)
• Rookie of the Year : Kawasaki LTD 440 – Annabel Weiß (Germany)
December 3, 2024 – Harley conversion from England wins European Custombike Championship
From November 29th to December 1st, 2024, Bad Salzuflen was once again dominated by the European custom bike scene. More than 21,000 visitors flocked to the East Westphalian city not to miss the largest trade fair for converted motorcycles on the continent. With three exhibition halls, over 23,000 square meters of exhibition space, around 186 international exhibitors and 252 spectacular custom bikes from all over Europe, the CUSTOMBIKE show has once again set standards.
For the first time, a moped build-off was held in Bad Salzuflen. During two days of the trade fair, the Töffliheizer Ostfriesland and the VEB-Design team fought an exciting duel, which the VEB-Design team narrowly won with their “Interflug Schwalbe” after a dramatic finale. They entered the trade fair history books as the first winners of the “German Räng-Däng-Däng-Build-Off”.
European Biker Build-Off: Exciting screwdriver duel
Things got a lot bigger at the European Biker Build-Off. Two custom bikes were set up on the large show stage in front of the audience. The teams from USM Motorcycles from Germany and Vhard Motorworks from Poland fought a close duel. USM impressed with a gold-red racer based on an Indian Sport Scout, while Vhard Motorworks opted for a matt black Harley-Davidson Softail with gold leaf details. In the end, USM won with a narrow majority of 48 votes - the title went to a conversion based on an Indian for the third year in a row.
European Custombike Championship: Victory for England
The European championship title and the prize money of 12,000 euros went to England this year. Vic Jefford and his wife Lin impressed with their “Platinum”, a home-built Harley V2 with impressive technical details such as battery-operated drum brakes in the rear wheel hub. The victory was considered deserved by all participants.
Further highlights of the CUSTOMBIKE show 2024
• Charity projects : Various projects collected donations for charitable purposes. These include the “Patchwork Bike” and the “Fukker 2.0”, the proceeds of which went to children with cancer.
• Supporting program : Spectacular shows, including the FUEL GIRLS with their fire show, Jagath Perera in the steep wall and musical performances by Jimmy Cornett.
• Special exhibition : “60 years of Simson Schwalbe” with the 92-year-old designer Erhard Werner, who shared anecdotes and autographs.
Winners of the European Custombike Championship 2024:
• Craziest Bike : Homemade with Suzuki GS 500 drive – Krystian Winzer (Poland)
• Best Moped : Innocenti Lambretta Li 150 – Christian Schneider (Germany)
• Rookie of the Year : Kawasaki LTD 440 – Annabel Weiß (Germany)
I'm currently traveling for you at the Custombike Show 2024 in Bad Salzuflen. The trade fair construction is in full swing and I already have the first pictures of the spectacular bikes, creative conversions and exciting highlights for you!
I was there this evening and there are at least 200 bikes in the bike show. I haven't counted them, but there are really a lot of them. It's really amazing how many of you flew in to be there with your bikes. And what beautiful devices there are!
Then there are all the exhibitor bikes. I'm excited to see how the trade fair is received by the public this year. In any case, in addition to the 1,000 bikes, there are a lot of good stands. You already got the impression when the hall plans with the exhibitors went online.
It feels like it's going to be a pretty awesome weekend, I'm looking forward to hearing your opinion, which I'll definitely read on Facebook or Instagram! See you!
Custombike Show 2024 Date: November 29th - December 1st, 2024 Opening hours: Friday: 11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Saturday: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Sunday: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m
