Software

Inconsistent data is a problem that is well-known to many online sellers, especially when selling on multiple channels. Additionally, demand fluctuates, which makes it hard for retailers to implement accurate forecasting. “Traditional forecasting methods struggle in today’s omnichannel retail environment, because they are designed for a stable, linear retail model that no longer exists”, according to Alexey Spas, CEO and founder of software engineering company Instinctools.

Online fashion platform Zalando has invested in German robotics company Sereact. It develops AI-powered robotics solutions. The investment is meant to accelerate automation of logistics in ecommerce, particularly in the processing of returns.

Agentic marketplace intelligence company Merchantee has raised 1.8 million euros in a funding round. With the capital injection, it wants to expand into Poland and Germany this year. It also has plans for further expansion in 2027.

Dutch ecommerce service provider Salesupply has announced a partnership with BrandOn Group, an Italian technology platform that specializes in growth strategies for marketplaces and social commerce. Through the collaboration, Italian brands will be able to use an end-to-end solution for international expansion.

Last year, 54 percent of new online stores in the Netherlands were created with Shopify. In France, that share came to 49 percent and in Spain, it was 41 percent. At the same time, the share of Prestashop among new stores has dropped in these countries.

Three German software companies have unveiled an end-to-end ecommerce solution, where all data and processes stay in Europe. Cloud provider STACKIT, platform provider Empiriecom and IT service provider Adesso have created an ecosystem that gives online sellers data sovereignty, in accordance with legal standards.

Finnish ecommerce platform Wolt has launched an update for its app. With the update, the company wants to take a step towards becoming a multi-category commerce platform. It gives retailers more opportunities to showcase their products to a wide audience.

Online fashion platform Asos has announced that it is introducing a returns transparency tool for its shoppers in the United Kingdom. This will give customers more information over their personal return rate, which influences their return fees. The feature will go live on 6 January.

The Platform Group (TPG) has published a vision document towards 2030. The German company, which operates a variety of marketplaces on its own software, plans to expand into more product categories and attract tens of thousands of additional sales partners. Its profitability must increase.

Paypal has increased its stake in German ecommerce software company Shopware. The online payment system now has a stake in the company of around 41 percent. The move can strengthen PayPal’s position in European ecommerce.

Overall, online sellers in Italy seem satisfied with the digital services they use. However, in any analyzed area, the degree of satisfaction does not reach higher than 80 percent. This indicates that there is still room for improvement, or new operators in the Italian market.

Dutch holding company, Compare Group, has entered Denmark and Norway. The owner of several price comparison services has now launched its platform in these two new markets. It is the second time the company expands in one year.

Ecommerce software provider Shopify has announced that it is upgrading its built-in fulfillment capabilities. It has new partnerships with multiple global carriers and offers more streamlined logistics workflows within its platform.

In the second quarter of this year, Shopify increased its business. Compared to the same period in 2024, the company’s gross merchandise value (GMV) grew 42 percent in Europe. Overall, its revenue increased 31 percent.

Ecommerce software company BigCommerce has announced the launch of Commerce, its new parent brand. Under Commerce, the ecommerce software will be unified with other software solutions Feedonomics and Makeswift. According to the company, it will help online sellers adapt to AI.