From start-up to scale-up: The company bezahl.de is taking off!

With the right vision for the digital future: In 2018, a group of just eight payment experts set themselves the task of digitizing manual workarounds and outdated analog processes in the German automotive trade. The innovative solution revolutionizes payment processes in car dealerships with smart functions such as digital payment invitations or 100% data quality for booking into existing administration systems. Both retailers, staff and customers welcomed the introduction of simplified and digital processes.

A short definition: What is a scale-up anyway?

Tech scale-ups have significantly stirred up the corporate landscape in Germany in recent years: Modern companies with digital visions and innovative company structures. What is behind it?

The term “start-up” is now familiar to most: It refers to young, still less established companies with ambitious goals and often little start-up capital. However, it is not static: Only companies within their first life cycle are referred to as “start-ups.” However, if it succeeds in successfully placing the first product on the market, generating recurring sales and establishing standardized processes, the young company grows beyond the start-up label: it becomes a scale-up. The definition of “scaling-up” comes from the English verb “to scale up”, i.e. “to rise” or “to enlarge.” By this, he specifically describes the rapid growth of the company phase following the start-up episode. Regardless of whether it's a start-up or a scale-up, the first few years are particularly important for young companies. If a start-up succeeds in proving its profitability, it becomes a scale-up and has thus overcome the first major hurdle.

When does the start-up become a scale-up?
The following characteristics show that a company has reached the scale-up phase:

• From a small group of founders, a great team.
• Instead of generalists who take over everything Departments are created, which focus on specific topics.
• While work processes in start-ups still need to be tested creatively and with some detours and established later, scale-ups have already efficient processes established.
• It has already been a solid customer base developed, who trusts in the company.
• While start-ups must first establish themselves in their chosen niche, scale-ups can be new market segments expand and celebrate their successes through continuous growth.
  

#rocketride: The company bezahl.de starts as a scale-up

As is typical for start-ups, the team of experts from bezahl.de initially focused on a very specific niche topic: the digitization and optimization of payment processes in the automotive trade. With its innovative payment management platform, it succeeded in simplifying the entire receivables process and automating process steps that are usually handled manually, such as sending invoices, reminders or payment allocation and posting into existing financial accounting systems. Through modern payment methods, car dealerships also offer their customers a modern payment experience: They can easily manage their payment via their mobile device. While initially only basic functions were available, the former start-up was able to quickly expand its range of products through continuous product developments. For example, in the current successful year of 2023, as bezahl.de introduced the first BNPL product specifically for the German automotive market. With the innovative functional extension, it was possible to integrate Germans' most popular means of payment into the existing check-out module: payment in installments.

“The practical installment function at bezahl.de gives our customers a convenient and flexible way to process their incoming payments and to simplify the payment process overall. Thanks to this function, we can strengthen and expand our customer satisfaction as well as our customer loyalty,” says Christine Anselm, accounting department at the Moll Group.

After the mandatory payment invitation, customers can simply choose their favorite payment method via their own mobile device. In addition to credit card payments or online transfers, the new installment payment option is now also available, which is fully integrated into the existing checkout module. The result of the automatically triggered credit check is discreetly displayed on your own mobile phone display. If this is positive, you can choose between 3 and 24 monthly installments. A short signature and you're done — receipt of the installment payment can be confirmed by the car dealership with just one click after receipt of the signed document. By fully assuming all credit, fraud and liquidity risks, they can offer this service worry-free.

Not least as a result of opening up new market segments and continuing growth, the former start-up developed into a scale-up and the first point of contact for digital payment management in the German-speaking automotive market. The team of formerly eight payment experts now comprises over 100 employees from more than ten countries.

The digital journey continues: 5 years of bezahl.de are just the beginning

Today, the team looks back on five successful years. However, standstill is far out of the question: The topic of digitization is becoming increasingly relevant for most industries — with bezahl.de at your side, you can easily master all the challenges of advancing technologization.

If you would like to find out how bezahl.de can support you on your personal digital journey, it is best to arrange a personal product presentation with us right away.

We are looking forward to seeing you!