Cross-border e-commerce has become one of the most important growth drivers in global online retail. Consumers increasingly purchase from international online stores to access better prices, broader product selections, and unique brands. At the same time, expanding internationally remains challenging. High shipping costs, long delivery times, and lack of trust continue to be major barriers …
With the official launch of the TikTok Shop in Germany in March 2025, social commerce has entered a new phase. Consumers can now purchase products directly within the app via videos, livestreams, and the integrated shop tab—without ever leaving TikTok. While this creates enormous potential for impulse purchases, research clearly shows that trust is the …
Artificial Intelligence is rapidly transforming digital commerce. With the introduction of the Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP), Google is taking a decisive step toward a future where AI agents can independently search for products, compare offers, and complete purchases on behalf of users. This new open protocol aims to standardize how AI systems interact with online …
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping sales processes across industries. Especially in retail, AI-powered sales applications enable more efficient workflows, personalized customer experiences, and data-driven decision-making. A project concept developed for Möbel Höffner illustrates how digital innovation can enhance field sales through AI, AR, and CRM integration. Project Concept: An AI-Powered Sales App The project focuses …
Global e-commerce is dominated by a small number of international giants. While these platforms offer scale and efficiency, they often operate with standardized processes that leave little room for local market needs, European regulations, and fair competitive conditions. Against this backdrop, Kaufland is positioning itself as a European e-commerce alternative, aiming to build a powerful …
Social commerce has evolved into one of the most dynamic growth areas within digital retail. By combining social media interactions with integrated shopping features, platforms enable users to discover, evaluate, and purchase products in a more intuitive and inspiration-driven way. Among these platforms, Pinterest stands out due to its strong focus on visual discovery, planning, …
The e-commerce landscape in 2026 brings important new tax and compliance changes that online merchants across the EU must understand and act on. While the major overhaul under the European VAT in the Digital Age (ViDA) initiative will roll out later, several new tax reporting duties and updated VAT rates come into force right from …
Introduction: Why Omnichannel Matters More Than Ever in 2026 By 2026, omnichannel is no longer a strategic option – it is a baseline expectation. Customers seamlessly move between online shops, mobile apps, marketplaces, and physical stores. What they expect is not just availability across channels, but consistency, personalization, and transparency at every touchpoint. Retailers that …
Turkey has emerged as one of the most dynamic e-commerce markets at the intersection of Europe and Asia. Driven by a young, digitally savvy population, rapidly increasing mobile usage and a growing platform economy, online retail in Turkey has experienced double-digit growth for several years. For international merchants and brands, the Turkish market offers significant …
In the rapidly evolving world of digital retail, a new paradigm is forming that could redefine how consumers shop online: Agentic Commerce. Unlike traditional e-commerce models where humans browse, compare, and purchase products, agentic commerce introduces autonomous AI agents that act on customers’ behalf — interpreting preferences, navigating options, and even completing transactions with minimal …
Traditional e-commerce is undergoing a fundamental shift. What once happened through online shops and product listings is increasingly moving into AI-powered chat environments. With concepts like ChatGPT Shopping and integrated conversational checkout, a completely new way of buying is emerging — directly within the chat interface, with product recommendations, comparisons and seamless purchase flows happening …
China has become the global innovation engine of social commerce. Platforms like WeChat, Douyin (TikTok China) and Taobao Live have already demonstrated how seamlessly social interaction, entertainment and in-app shopping can merge into one ecosystem. In Europe, by contrast, social commerce is still at an early stage—fragmented, highly regulated and culturally more cautious. The presentation …
Live-shopping is rapidly shifting from a trend to a core component of modern e-commerce strategies. With the launch of live auctions and live-shopping formats in Germany, eBay demonstrates how real-time interaction, video commerce and community-driven engagement are reshaping the online retail landscape. For merchants, brands and e-commerce professionals, this marks the emergence of a new …
The European Union has announced a major regulatory shift: the long-standing 150-euro customs exemption for low-value shipments from non-EU countries will be abolished. This decision will significantly reshape the dynamics of cross-border e-commerce. For online sellers operating within the EU, this reform represents both a challenge and an opportunity. It will influence pricing, sourcing, logistics, …
The European payment service Wero has officially launched in Germany’s online retail sector – albeit in a limited rollout. Backed by major European banks, Wero aims to reduce merchants’ reliance on U.S. payment providers such as PayPal. But what does this mean for e-commerce businesses? And how can online retailers prepare for the shift? What …
The digital transformation of healthcare is no longer a distant aspiration—it is an urgent necessity. As healthcare systems around the world continue to evolve, Germany stands at a critical point: the potential to create a healthcare environment that is more connected, more efficient, and above all, more patient-centered. The recently published book “Digitale Gesundheit in …
The world of online commerce is expanding rapidly — and with it, the challenges surrounding transparency, trust, and product safety. More and more consumers expect authenticity and clear information about where products come from and how they are made. Modern E-commerce surveillance technology has become a crucial tool in achieving this. It not only helps …
In the recent article “E-Commerce Without Buzzwords: Myths Demystified” published by etailment.de, the author takes a closer look at common misconceptions in the online retail world. The piece invites readers to strip away the marketing jargon and focus instead on what truly drives success in e-commerce. Terms like “digitalization,” “omnichannel,” “customer journey,” or “marketplace explosion” …
The integration of generative AI tools like ChatGPT into e-commerce marks the beginning of a new era in digital retail. More and more online shops are gaining visibility through AI-generated search results, and the flow of visitors coming from ChatGPT is steadily growing. However, while the traffic numbers look promising, the results in terms of …
Digital transformation is reshaping every industry — and wholesale is no exception. Companies that fail to embrace e-commerce and digital tools risk falling behind. In this post, we explore how digital transformation in wholesale is evolving, the key trends driving change, and what businesses should do to stay competitive in the digital era. 1. The …