Transitievend

Transitievend is a neologism used in Dutch-language discourse to describe a vendor or business that specializes in goods or services intended to accompany a transition period within an industry, policy regime, or market. The term combines transitie (transition) and vend (vendor). It is typically used in contexts where an upcoming change—such as the shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy, the digitization of public services, or urban redevelopment—creates a need for temporary, modular, or scalable solutions that ease adoption.

Offerings of a transitievend typically include equipment leases or flexible purchasing options for transitional technologies, consulting and project management for phase implementations, and maintenance plans aligned with evolving regulatory requirements. In energy and mobility, examples include heat-pump retrofits, solar-installation packages, or charging-infrastructure rollouts that can be scaled up or down as policy evolves.

Business models surrounding transitievend activities often rely on service contracts, performance-based financing, or public–private partnerships, positioning the vendor as an intermediary between policymakers and end users during a transition. Benefits may include reduced upfront costs, accelerated adoption of innovations, and lower risk for customers facing policy or market uncertainty.

Critics warn that the label can be used as marketing spin; transitional products may become stranded assets if policies change; and market fragmentation can hinder long-term planning. The term remains informal and its precise meaning varies by sector and region.

See also: transition management, energy service company, modular construction, pop-up commerce.