Accell Group

About Accell Group

Accell Group designs simple and smart solutions to create a fantastic cycling experience for everyone who uses Accell bikes. A maker of bicycles, bicycle parts and accessories, Accell is the European market leader in e-bikes and the second largest in bicycle parts and accessories, with numerous leading European bicycle brands under one roof. Well-known bicycle brands in the group's portfolio include Haibike, Winora, Ghost, Batavus, Koga, Lapierre, Raleigh, Sparta, Babboe and Carqon. XLC is the brand Accell uses for bicycle parts and accessories. Employing approximately 3,500 people across 15 countries, Accell Group's bikes and related products are sold to dealers and consumers in more than 80 countries. Learn more at accell-group.com.

"ESG data was previously collected in Excel® — sometimes by legal entity, sometimes by region — and this collection was done just once a year due to the cumbersome process. It would take a lot of time and a large group of people to complete. Now ESG data is merged with financial data via an ESG dashboard in OneStream. Forms are completed by the legal entities on a monthly and quarterly basis. So while the frequency increased due to shareholders increased interest, the size of the team working on this decreased thanks to OneStream."

— Gijs van der Veen, Senior Financial System Specialist, Accell Group

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Creating a Sustainable Future

Accell Group operates under one core premise: cycling moves the world forward. With well-known brands such as Batavus, Koga, Raleigh and Sparta, the Netherlands-based bicycle manufacturer has been focused on creating a culture in which every employee helps create value for the organization and its stakeholders. This value includes both tangible and intangible benefits for the long-term. "At Accell Group, we keep pushing ourselves to create highquality, high performance, cutting-edge products," said Gijs van der Veen, Senior Financial System Specialist at Accell Group.

"With that, we always want to continuously create value in a sustainable way." Facing increasing pressure to report on sustainability performance, Accell Group embarked on a Finance Transformation journey to manage the group's environmental, social and governance data and financial consolidation all in one software platform.

Preparing for CSRD Requirements

"Regarding environmental sustainability, Accell Group has set a target to reduce its carbon footprint by having 100% renewable electricity in 2026," Gijs van der Veen continued. "In terms of social responsibility, Accell Group has implemented several initiatives to improve working conditions and safety employees." The organization also has a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion, with a goal of having at least 30% of management positions held by women by 2025.

This proactive approach to ESG reporting positions Accell Group well for the potential implementation of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). As legislation moves closer to becoming law in the EU, companies will need to have robust ESG reporting frameworks in place, supported by the right systems, to comply with the new regulations and show commitment to sustainability.

By already reporting on sustainability performance and setting ambitious targets, Accell Group is demonstrating its willingness to be transparent about its sustainability performance and commitment to improve the organization's ESG footprint. The CSRD will also likely require companies to report on additional ESG metrics and provide more detailed information.

Accell Group's reporting framework in OneStream will make compliance with the new regulations easier and faster.

Conquering Complexity in ESG Reporting

Accell Group has been leveraging OneStream for consolidation and lease accounting processes, as well as ESG reporting, since 2022. This transformation reflects Accell Group's commitment to sustainability and transparency, and the group's recognition of the importance of ESG reporting for stakeholders.

One of the main benefits of aligning ESG reporting with financial close processes is the ability to unify data from multiple sources into a single platform. This capability makes it easier to track and report on key sustainability metrics (e.g., carbon emissions, energy usage and employee diversity). By unifying all ESG data, Accell Group can easily compare and analyze performance across different business units and locations.

Accell Group now generates more complete information reflecting the interdependencies between financial and non-financial performance. "OneStream enables Accell Group and our clients to plan projects and track both financial impact and improvement of the environmental footprint towards sustainability goals," Gijs van der Veen explained.

Accell Group is also benefiting from robust reporting and visualization capabilities, making it easier to create customized reports and dashboards for ESG data. Such capabilities help the Accell team identify areas for improvement, make data-driven decisions, and respond quickly to changes in ESG performance.

Companies like Accell Group are not only looking to streamline data but also making this intent auditable and transparent across the organization. OneStream's advanced data governance and security features ensure that Accell Group's ESG data is accurate, reliable and secure. The benefits of those features are especially important to comply with ESG regulations and reporting requirements wherever ESG reporting will be audited.

Accell has also seen value in the flexibility and scalability of the platform in adapting to changing ESG reporting requirements. In fact, the Accell team can now scale its reporting capabilities as sustainability initiatives evolve. Accell can, as a result, easily add new data sources, customize reporting templates and integrate with other systems, such as sustainability management software.

Bringing ESG and Financial Data Together

Accell Group has streamlined its reporting processes by simplifying the collection, management and reporting of ESG data (and performance) across operations.

"ESG data was previously collected in Excel® — sometimes by legal entity, sometimes by region — and this collection was done just once a year due to the cumbersome process. It would take a lot of time and a large group of people to complete," said Gijs van der Veen. "Now ESG data is merged with financial data via an ESG dashboard in OneStream. Forms are completed by the legal entities on a monthly and quarterly basis. So while the frequency increased due to shareholders increased interest, the size of the team working on this decreased thanks to OneStream."

As Accell's ESG reporting evolves, the platform can easily flex and scale to accommodate changes. This ability to adapt has helped to future-proof the reporting processes and ensure that they remain aligned with best practices and emerging regulatory requirements.

About the Implementation Partners

AMCO Solutions is a global Finance business partner and a trusted thought leader in providing end-to-end business services for CPM & ERP solutions to cater to your business needs.

Notably, AMCO is one of the few OneStream Diamond Partners globally and the only OneStream Diamond Partner in APAC and the Middle East regions.

AMCO is a global team of 160+ dedicated experts and professionals who thrive on passion and innovation in 11 locations worldwide. Trusted by 100+ clients, AMCO's 15 years in the business allow it to fulfill implementations and support services in over 40 countries. AMCO's experience is backed up by 190 projects for over 100 customers in different industries. For more information, AMCO.one.

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