Cross-channel

Well-known German sportswear manufacturer Adidas has grown its online presence. Last year, the company realized online sales of 4.3 billion euros. This was an increase of 6 percent.

Dutch online marketplace Bol has had a good year: sales increased 8.7 percent, reaching 3.1 billion euros. It also earned more from its own platform sales than all sales partners together, figures show. Bol seems to become more like an online store again, instead of a platform.

German online marketplace Kaufland is discontinuing Fulfillment by Kaufland (FBK). The service will remain active until February 28, after which stored products will be returned free of charge to the respective selling partners. The platform is working on an international multichannel alternative.

If Zalando acquires About You, the company will not only strengthen its position in the consumer market but also become the new owner of Scayle, a provider of ecommerce software. This acquisition would create "the next B2B powerhouse for the ecommerce industry in Europe".

A majority of 73 percent of online retailers and service providers in Italy are satisfied by services provided by technology partners and agencies. At least 71 percent are also satisfied by their payment systems. However, most of the companies are dissatisfied with innovative technologies, like AI.

This integration offers SAP Order Management Foundation customers the opportunity to further optimize multichannel operations across more than 950 sales channels worldwide. It also includes new AI-features. Support for OMSA is on the way.

Afound, H&M’s digital outlet, will be closing its doors later this year. Brands that are displayed in the outlet have adapted more direct-to-consumer strategies, resulting in a lack of demand. Their products in sale are often sold on their own websites.

Online revenue in the Netherlands is expected to increase 8 percent this year, compared to 2023. Meanwhile, the total retail revenue will increase only 2 percent. This is due to an expected decline in supermarket sales, because of a ban on selling tobacco in those stores.

Ikea has opened its hundredth mobile pick-up point at Tesco, the largest supermarket chain in the United Kingdom. On this occasion, the Swedish furniture retailer announced plans to double this number. Almost 40 percent of Ikea's UK sales now come from the online channel.

Dutch omnichannel retailer Coolblue has generated a revenue of 2.41 billion euros last year. This was an increase of 2.5 percent compared to a year earlier. Additionally, the company doubled its earnings before interest to 88.3 million euros.

A vast majority of German retailers are now selling both offline and online to their customers. According to a study by the industry association Bitkom, this figure stands at 85 percent, up from 77 percent in 2021 and just 66 percent in 2019.

Fnac Darty and CEVA Logistics are establishing a joint venture, called Weavenn. The new venture will offer SaaS marketplace technology solutions, as well as logistics. It is set to be operational as of 2024.

French cosmetics company Yves Rocher is closing all of its branches in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. With the company’s current business model, it is no longer possible to operate sustainably and successfully. It will continue operating in those markets, but online only.

Ecommerce software provider Shopline is expanding into Europe. The Singapore-based company is launching a European headquarters in London. It raised 182 million dollars last year in order to accelerate its global expansion.

Ecommerce giant Zalando is streamlining its range. As a result, it will remove products of brands on June 30. After that, the brand will be completely deleted from the platform’s data.