Only 28 percent of the 100 largest online stores in Belgium and the Netherlands offer customer service in the evening. And only 44 percent use WhatsApp as a customer service channel, even though the app is very popular among consumers. As a result, online stores are missing out on conversions.
Amazon significantly increased revenue in its two largest European markets last year. The company generated 45.9 billion dollars in Germany and 43.2 billion dollars in the United Kingdom, representing growth of 12.3 percent and 14.2 percent, respectively.
Amazon may no longer influence the prices set by sellers on its German marketplace – something the company has been doing. Amazon must change its policies and may only exert price influence in exceptional cases. It must also repay 59 million euros in economic benefits.
Nearly a quarter of German consumers use online subscriptions for products such as razor blades, shampoo, or flowers. On average, they have three active subscriptions. This is according to research by the digital industry association Bitkom among more than 1,000 German consumers.
Dutch marketplace Bol is introducing ‘a completely new ecosystem category’: third-party fulfillment, or 3PL for short. The market leader is looking for logistics companies that can help partner sellers with warehouse space and processing orders. Currently, sellers can only outsource fulfillment to Bol itself, but soon they will also be able to outsource to other fulfillment companies within the network.
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.
The number of low-cost ecommerce parcels that the European Union received from outside the Union rose sharply again last year, increasing by 26 percent. In total, 5.8 billion parcels with a value of up to 150 euros were imported. That amounts to roughly one parcel per EU citizen per month.
Ecommerce giant Temu has suspended cross-border sales of products in Türkiye. Consumers in the country can only see and buy products from local online sellers that offer domestic shipping. The change comes after a regulatory inspection from Türkiye’s Competition Authority, and it is unclear if it is a permanent change or not.
Online product spending in Germany grew by 3.2 percent last year, reaching 83.1 billion euros. This growth is significantly stronger than had been forecast a year earlier. Even stronger growth is expected for the current year. “Online retail is a rare bright spot in the German economy.”
Asian companies selling on TikTok Shop in Europe can now outsource their logistics to the platform. Fulfilled by TikTok will be available to them through warehouse locations in Germany, France, Italy, and Spain. In addition to being a sales platform, TikTok is increasingly positioning itself as a logistics service provider.
Fashion brand Topshop has launched a dedicated European online store. The new website is active across 23 markets in Europe. The brand, which was formerly known as a high street brand, has undergone a digital transformation.
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.
Amazon has taken an important step in the field of quick commerce in Europe. The company has launched Amazon Now in London. Users can order thousands of everyday essentials, including groceries and personal care items, which are delivered within 30 minutes in selected parts of the city.
In a short period of time, Temu has become a dominant player in global ecommerce. Nearly a quarter of consumers (24 percent) made their most recent cross-border purchase on the Chinese platform. This puts Temu on par with Amazon.
This week, eBay announced that it is launching eBay SpeedPAK in Germany. The service offers sellers a customs-cleared shipping, with import duties already paid. It makes international shipping easier for German sellers.