Germany

Arvato Supply Chain Solutions, a supply chain management service provider from Germany, began the use of AutoStore operations in Dortmund today. They will use the largest number of robots in one location in Europe. Approximately 180,000 bins and 280 robots can be used in the new hall.

Amazon wants to expand further in Germany and plans to erect eight new logistics buildings by the first half of 2022. This will create 3.000 additional permanent jobs with Amazon Germany. The expansion is necessary to meet customer demand and expand the range of products.

Ecommerce software provider Shopware has announced that it will release two new software features: Flow Builder and Guided Shopping. This will make it easier for shop owners to customize the open source software.

Berlin Brands Group has secured 700 million dollars (590 million euros) of additional debt and equity financing. The millions of euros were raised for the acquisition of ecommerce brands and the development of an international logistics network.

Berlin Brands Group has plans to massively expand its own logistics network in Europe over the next two years. The German company, which acquires ecommerce brands and Amazon retailers, will open logistics centers in multiple countries across Europe.

Deutsche Post DHL Group has announced it will acquire J.F. Hillebrand Group and its subsidiaries. Hillebrand is specialized in transporting beverages and bulk liquids. The world's largest courier company will pay 1.5 billion euros in cash for the German beverage logistics company.

Delivery Hero has launched its delivery app in Germany. Under the brand Foondpanda, the app now covers four districts of the German capital of Berlin. The launch follows after testing the service and scaling it up gradually.

New online supermarket GerneOhne wants to prove there's another way to shop for groceries. Since the first of July, customers across Germany can order plastic-free packaged food online and have their groceries delivered to their homes.

Ecommerce software provider Shopware has today released a video-on-demand service. The free service, called Shopware TV, offers video content about all things ecommerce. Shopware TV will show both business-relevant information and entertaining videos.

Noyes, a German provider of very small warehouses, has raised 3.8 million dollars (3.23 million euros) in seed funding. The investment comes at a time where there are many instant-delivery providers looking for storefronts that can be converted into small warehouses.

Jokr, an instant-delivery retail platform from German entrepreneur Ralf Wenzel, has raised 170 million dollars (144 million euros) from investors. The funding round comes barely four months after the startup launched in Europe and the Americas.

Major online retailers in Germany are, in general, very generous when it comes to their return policy. Every second retailer extends its return period beyond the legal minimum. And 13 percent of ecommerce companies who specify a time period for remittances pay earlier than promised.

Dutch omnichannel retailer Coolblue will open its first physical store in Germany at the end of this year. The white goods and electronics retailer will also open five more stores in the Netherlands and Belgium this year.

Online electrical retailer AO wants to more than double its turnover in five years' time. In this time frame, the UK company also aims to be active in five different markets. "Our mission is to be the global destination for electricals", AO stated during its full year results presentation.

Last year, 6.4 percent of all ecommerce revenue in Germany was generated via click & collect solutions in physical stores. But these revenue was not equally distributed across different product categories. Consumer electronics represent the biggest click & collect segment, with a revenue share of 27 percent.