In practice, switching to a different supplier for the tyre passport usually takes between four weeks and a couple of months. The biggest variable is not the technology, but whether your current data is transferable in a usable format and whether the new provider supports the same connections as the old one.
The shortest timelines occur with companies that have their own source data well organised: an export from the old system, an import to the new one, and a check that the QR data carriers continue to point to valid passports. Longer timelines arise when data is scattered across multiple systems, or when the old supplier delays or restricts the export.
Which steps determine the processing time
A switch typically consists of four phases: requesting and checking the existing data, setting up the new environment, testing whether the passports transfer correctly and completely, and converting the active QR codes so they do not continue to point to an outdated or defunct page. Each phase has its own bottlenecks.
The first phase often encounters delays when the contract does not stipulate that you have the right to an export of your own data in a readable format. Without that agreement, you are dependent on the goodwill of the departing supplier. When drawing up or renewing a contract, this is one of the points that deserves attention beforehand; the knowledge base addresses what is relevant for each topic.
Where timelines stall in practice
Three situations typically cause delays. First, missing or incomplete export options from the old provider, which means data must be manually reviewed. Second, differences in the way suppliers structure data, which means that a simple copy is not sufficient and checks are still needed at field level. Third, the QR codes themselves: if these are printed on packaging or labels already in circulation, the data carrier cannot simply be replaced without the old code continuing to work or redirecting correctly.
Additionally, there is the question of whether the passport must remain available after the switch for the remainder of the hosting term. Because a product passport typically must be accessible for a longer period, it is important that the new supplier can guarantee that continuity, even if the contract with the old provider has already ended.
What you can find out in advance
Before you plan a switch, it is useful to ask the new supplier for an indication of the processing time for your specific number of products and connections, and how they handle the transition period in which old and new QR codes can coexist. With your current supplier, it is useful to check what is contractually stipulated regarding data portability and the timeframe within which an export is made available.
On the page explaining where the information comes from it is explained how we process data and how the connection with source files works; that gives an idea of what you can also ask another provider about. For a first impression of what applies to your situation, you can get an indication in a few questions of where you currently stand.
No fixed standard, but a pattern
The regulation itself does not prescribe a deadline within which a switch between software providers must be completed; that is a practical matter between you and the suppliers involved. What is important is that the passport remains continuously available and up to date, regardless of which party manages it. A brief period in which data is incorrect or a QR code does not work is something you would best discuss in advance with both parties rather than discover afterwards.
Because price agreements and notice periods vary considerably per supplier, it is advisable to include these points in the comparison before you make a choice; a breakdown of how the costs are structured can serve as a starting point for this. For questions that are not supplier-specific but concern the regulation itself, the competent supervisory authority or a lawyer is the appropriate point of contact.
Would you like to know what a switch might look like in your situation? Take the free quick-scan or browse through the topics in the knowledge base for an answer that fits your business.