Introducing ‘MQ Fit Bike’ – The world’s first AI-powered bike fit tool, only at fahrrad.de!
The result of strategic a partnership between SIGNA Sports United and Motesque
Stuttgart, March 8th, 2022 – With over 140,000 products and 1,400 brands, Internetstores is Europe’s leading multi-channel specialist retailer for bike and outdoor. However, it’s always possible to improve, and that’s why, for 2022, fahrrad.de is launching a revolutionary AI tool to help customers find exactly the right bike. Through a strategic partnership with Motesque, the international expert for scientific technology solutions in (online) retail and health tech, fahrrad.de, part of SIGNA Sports United, is the first retailer to offer “MQ Fit Bike”. Powered by AI, this tool will guide cyclists/enthusiasts to their perfectly fitting bike.
THE RIGHT SIZE FOR THE BEST CYCLING EXPERIENCE
Whether it’s a road, mountain or trekking bike; cargo bike or pedelec – choosing the right size is crucial, no matter if you’re in a brick-and-mortar store, at your computer or on your smartphone. While experienced cyclists have the knowledge to read geometry charts when choosing a bike, newcomers and less-experienced cyclists may struggle when selecting the right frame size.
“As Europe’s leading multi-channel retailer, we really understand our customers’ shopping needs and behaviours”, says Thomas Spengler, Managing Director of Internetstores, the company behind e-commerce platform fahrrad.de. “With the experience gained from our stores in Düsseldorf, Berlin, Dortmund, Hamburg and Stuttgart, we know that choosing the right frame size for the desired model still generates the greatest need for advice. With MQ Fit Bike, the AI tool we developed with our partner Motesque, we’ll be able to guide all our online customers to the perfect size with scientific accuracy. We’re proud to be the first company in the world to offer this futuristic digital shopping experience”.
MQ Fit Bike will first be available in Germany via fahrrad.de. The AI tool needs two full-body photographs that the customer will upload, and the software will take care of the rest. “The software records all relevant body data, such as height, shoulder width and inseam and uses it to create a 3D avatar,” explains Professor Dr Kai Oberländer, co-founder and CEO of Motesque.
“This avatar then ‘rides’ the desired bike with different saddle heights, frame sizes, etc. and thus determines the perfect configuration for the individual customer. Best of all, it only takes a few seconds!” MQ Fit Bike can also work without photos: instead, the customer can enter a few body measurements to help create the avatar; however, this doesn’t achieve the same precision as the image-capturing method.
“We’re very pleased to launch the bike-specific solution from our MQ Fit range in Germany together with Internetstores,” says Kai Oberländer. “MQ Fit Bike was developed to recommend the perfect product to individual consumers and to save them and retailers the hassle of returning a bike.”
ELIMINATING ERRORS, OFFERING ALTERNATIVES & STILL FREE RETURNS
Thanks to thousands of bike and e-bike measurements from Internetstores’ unrivalled portfolio, the customer is guaranteed to find a bike that fits. Another advantage the AI tool offers is that “if the (customer’s) number one choice isn’t available in the right size, the tool automatically suggests alternatives,” says Internetstores Managing Director Thomas Spengler. Gone are the days when customers come to buy a bike and leave empty-handed. Internetstores always puts the customer at the centre of their strategy, so if the bike still isn’t quite right, every order can be returned, for free, within 30 days.
MQ Fit Bike has already been integrated into the fahrrad.de webshop. Further information on how the AI works or future strategic areas of application can be provided on request.
MEDIA CONTACTS
Thorsten Lewandowski, Head of Communications
+49 151 54632641
Internetstores GmbH, Friedrichstraße 6, D-70174 Stuttgart
Lara De Miranda, Head of Marketing
Motesque GmbH & Co. KG, Spichernstraße 6, D-50672 Köln
ABOUT INTERNETSTORES
As the world’s leading multi-channel retailer for bike and outdoor, Internetstores gets thousands of people on bikes and outdoors every day. The wide-reaching platforms fahrrad.de, Brügelmann, Bikester, Probikeshop, Campz and Addnature offer more than 1,400 brands and 140,000 products – directly available online, conveniently paid or financed and delivered to your home or location of choice. In addition to the world’s leading top brands from the bicycle, e-bike and outdoor sectors, Internetstores also sells exclusive and award-winning product lines from companies such as Votec, Fixie Inc, Ortler and Serious. The strong online business is complemented by local stores in Germany, Sweden, and France and a growing network of stationary and mobile service partners.
The Internetstores Group is part of SIGNA Sports United and employs over 900 people in Stuttgart, Berlin, Lyon and Stockholm. Further information at internetstores.com
ABOUT MOTESQUE
Motesque develops unique solutions for the healthcare, e-commerce and retail industries using data derived from body proportions and movement. Leading global companies such as Ottobock, ASICS and SIGNA Sports United rely on Motesque’s biomechanical and AI-based technologies. The company measures human movements with state-of-the-art sensor technology and translates these measurements into recommendations, for example: custom-fit orthoses and prostheses, or for the perfect running shoe. Motesque’s AI-based commerce solution captures physical data from customers in online shops or in-store to recreate their exact body shape as a 3D avatar. This can realistically simulate a user’s interactions with a particular product to create individual product recommendations. The result is more satisfied customers, fewer returns, more successful and sustainable sales and a genuine contribution to human health.
Motesque is based in Cologne and Brooklyn. Find more information at motesque.com
ABOUT SIGNA SPORTS UNITED
Inspiring performance. United by passion. SSU is a group of specialist sports webshops powered by our leading sports commerce and technology platform. Our unique strategy allows us to highlight the best of our 1000+ brand partners in cycling, tennis, outdoor and team sports. Together, we serve more than seven million active customers by bringing together global sports data pools, digital talent and a passion for an active life. Find more information at www.signa-sportsunited.com