Author: Annalena Sommer
General
 
/
Business Model Innovation with the Business Model Canvas and Blue Ocean Strategy: Rethinking Competitive Advantage

Business Model Innovation with the Business Model Canvas and Blue Ocean Strategy: Rethinking Competitive Advantage

Abstract: Business model innovation is becoming a decisive competitive factor in dynamic digital markets. The combination of the Business Model Canvas (BMC) and the Blue Ocean Strategy (BOS) provides a structured approach to analyzing existing business models, avoiding intense competition, and unlocking new market opportunities. This article demonstrates how organizations can systematically drive strategic transformation …

Weiterlesen … Read More
Research
 
/
Real CO₂ Footprint Instead of Rough Estimates: Why Accurate Carbon Measurement Matters in E-Commerce

Real CO₂ Footprint Instead of Rough Estimates: Why Accurate Carbon Measurement Matters in E-Commerce

Abstract: Accurate carbon accounting is becoming a strategic necessity in digital commerce. A recent case study by Momox and AI-based sustainability platform Cedara demonstrates that activity-based carbon measurement provides more reliable results than rough estimations. This article explains why precise CO₂ footprint measurement is crucial for sustainable e-commerce strategies, digital marketing transparency, and future-ready ESG …

Weiterlesen … Read More
Research
 
/
Smart Home in the TikTok Shop: How Social Commerce Creates New Opportunities for smartkram

Smart Home in the TikTok Shop: How Social Commerce Creates New Opportunities for smartkram

Abstract: The TikTok Shop has been available in Germany since March 2025 and is fundamentally reshaping the digital customer journey. For smart home providers such as smartkram, social commerce opens new opportunities to combine brand awareness, community engagement, and direct sales on a single platform. This article analyzes the strategic potential, risks, and concrete implementation …

Weiterlesen … Read More
Sustainability
 
/
eBay Climate Plan 2045 & Recommerce Routine: A New Era for Sustainable E-Commerce

eBay Climate Plan 2045 & Recommerce Routine: A New Era for Sustainable E-Commerce

Abstract: eBay has published its first Climate Transition Plan, outlining a roadmap to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045 while advancing sustainable commerce through recommerce and circular economy practices. At the same time, Germany is experiencing a rapid shift toward recommerce as consumers increasingly prioritize resale, reuse, and sustainability over traditional retail. This blog explores …

Weiterlesen … Read More
ISPC
 
/
ISPC 2026: International Conference on Digital Management, AI, and E-Commerce in Switzerland

ISPC 2026: International Conference on Digital Management, AI, and E-Commerce in Switzerland

Abstract: ISPC 2026 is an international scientific-practical conference taking place in Brugg, Switzerland, focusing on Digital Management, E-Commerce, Social Commerce, Artificial Intelligence, and Digital Transformation. Organized by leading universities and research institutions, the conference invites researchers, practitioners, and students to submit abstracts and participate in a hybrid academic exchange. What Is ISPC 2026? The ISPC …

Weiterlesen … Read More
Event
 
/
TikTok Shop from a Scientific Perspective: Social Commerce in Public Discourse at Cologne City Hall

TikTok Shop from a Scientific Perspective: Social Commerce in Public Discourse at Cologne City Hall

On February 2, 2026, the Kölner Wissenschaftsrunde invited curious minds to the Europasaal in the historic Rathaus Köln for a new installment of “Wissenschaft im Rathaus” — a monthly lecture series that brings academic research to the public forum. The event “The TikTok Shop from a Scientific Perspective” featured Prof. Dr. Richard C. Geibel, Head …

Weiterlesen … Read More
General
 
/
TikTok Shop Hitschies: Key Success Factors for Social Commerce in Germany

TikTok Shop Hitschies: Key Success Factors for Social Commerce in Germany

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 …

Weiterlesen … Read More
General
 
/
Cross-Border E-Commerce: Key Success Factors for International Online Retail

Cross-Border E-Commerce: Key Success Factors for International Online Retail

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 …

Weiterlesen … Read More
General
 
/
Trust in the TikTok Shop: Key Drivers of Credibility in Social Commerce

Trust in the TikTok Shop: Key Drivers of Credibility in Social Commerce

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 …

Weiterlesen … Read More
General
 
/
Universal Commerce Protocol: Google’s New AI Standard for the Future of E-Commerce

Universal Commerce Protocol: Google’s New AI Standard for the Future of E-Commerce

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 …

Weiterlesen … Read More
General
 
/
AI in Sales: How Intelligent Sales Apps Are Transforming Retail

AI in Sales: How Intelligent Sales Apps Are Transforming Retail

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 …

Weiterlesen … Read More
General
 
/
Kaufland Marketplace as a European E-Commerce Alternative

Kaufland Marketplace as a European E-Commerce Alternative

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 …

Weiterlesen … Read More
General
 
/
Social Commerce with Pinterest: How Visual Inspiration Drives E-Commerce

Social Commerce with Pinterest: How Visual Inspiration Drives E-Commerce

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, …

Weiterlesen … Read More
General
 
/
E-Commerce Tax Changes 2026: What Online Sellers Must Know

E-Commerce Tax Changes 2026: What Online Sellers Must Know

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 …

Weiterlesen … Read More
General
 
/
Omnichannel Trends 2026 in E-Commerce: How Retailers Can Stay Competitive

Omnichannel Trends 2026 in E-Commerce: How Retailers Can Stay Competitive

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 …

Weiterlesen … Read More
Social Commerce
 
/
Beauty Goes Social Commerce

Beauty Goes Social Commerce

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 …

Weiterlesen … Read More
General
 
/
E-Commerce Turkey: Opportunities, Trends and Market Insights

E-Commerce Turkey: Opportunities, Trends and Market Insights

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 …

Weiterlesen … Read More
General
 
/
Agentic Commerce: The Next AI-Driven E-Commerce Shift

Agentic Commerce: The Next AI-Driven E-Commerce Shift

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 …

Weiterlesen … Read More
Social Commerce
 
/
Instagram Shops: Key Success Factors in Social Commerce

Instagram Shops: Key Success Factors in Social Commerce

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 …

Weiterlesen … Read More
Digital Health
 
/
Digital Health in Germany: Key Insights from the Press Conference on the New Springer Publication

Digital Health in Germany: Key Insights from the Press Conference on the New Springer Publication

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 …

Weiterlesen … Read More