The TikTok Shop marks a turning point for e-commerce in Germany. By integrating shopping directly into an entertainment-driven platform, the boundaries between content, community, and commerce are dissolving. One of the first German brands to strategically leverage this opportunity is Hitschies. The confectionery brand is widely regarded as a pioneer of the TikTok Shop in …
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 …
The beauty industry is one of the most powerful drivers of social commerce. Few sectors combine emotional branding, visual storytelling and community interaction with integrated purchasing as consistently as cosmetics. The presentation “Beauty Goes Social – Using Essence as an Example” illustrates how purchasing behavior, particularly among younger audiences, is changing and why platforms such …
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 …
than one billion users and a highly visual environment, the platform offers ideal conditions for brands that want to present their products in an emotional and engaging way. The student presentation “Instagram Shops as a Sales Channel – Success Factors & Challenges in Social Commerce” offers a structured overview of how Instagram functions as a …
On December 3rd at 4:30 p.m., the official press conference for the launch of the book Digital Health in Germany took place — a joint initiative of the AOK Rheinland/Hamburg, the editorial team led by Prof. Dr. Richard Geibel (E-Commerce Institute Cologne) and Dr. Ulrich Arnold, and the Springer publishing house. The publication has already …
Social commerce is reshaping how consumers discover and purchase products — and the development is accelerating rapidly in Europe. As platforms like TikTok, Instagram and eBay expand their live-shopping and in-app checkout options, both brands and consumers are adapting to this new environment. In a television interview with the German broadcaster ZDF, Prof. Dr. Richard …
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 …
The automotive claims industry is undergoing rapid transformation as digital technologies, new mobility trends, and rising expectations around efficiency and transparency reshape the way insurers, fleets, and service providers operate. To better understand these developments, the E-Commerce Institute Cologne and the IU International University have launched a comprehensive academic research project examining the future of …
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 …
Social commerce is evolving faster than any other digital sales channel, and Instagram has become one of the most influential platforms shaping this transformation. With built-in shopping features, product tags, Reels and even a fully integrated Amazon shop, Instagram already provides the technical foundation for seamless in-app purchases. Yet despite millions of daily impressions, user …