Has e-commerce in Germany overcome its slump? Since the beginning of the year, many economic and trade experts as well as relevant associations have been dealing with this question. The Federal Association of E-Commerce and Mail Order (bevh) spoke of an upswing on the occasion of the balance sheet for the year 2024 – gross sales had increased again for the first time since 2021. However, according to the association, this does not necessarily mean the all-clear.
According to bevh President Gero Furchheim, positive impulses for the economy and purchasing power can only occur if new crises and geopolitical uncertainties do not stall growth.
Trade conflicts complicate forecasts
The unresolved trade conflict between the USA and the EU, the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, as well as the still unclear investment situation in Germany raise doubts about whether a lasting upswing
in B2C and B2B online trading is possible this year. Although the German economy grew unexpectedly by 0.4 percent in the first quarter of 2025 – thanks to increased purchasing power, stronger exports, and higher production volumes in industry – according to economic experts, this trend is unlikely to continue. Rather, the current growth is more shaped by anticipation effects in the smoldering trade conflict. Actual growth, according to the economic experts in May, is not expected until 2026 at the earliest.
Therefore, it is all the more important for logistics managers and decision-makers in the e-commerce sector to strategically position themselves so that they can successfully master volatile times. LOGISTIK HEUTE offers the opportunity to learn about best practices in online trading and network on site as part of the face-to-face event “Smart Supply Chains: Setting the Course in E-Commerce Logistics,”
which takes place on July 8 in Dachau near Munich.
To impart knowledge and facilitate professional exchange, LOGISTIK HEUTE brings high-level speakers to the stage of the specialist forum:
- Benjamin Ertl, SVP Supply Chain, Member of the Executive Board, Sonepar Suisse AG
- Florian Buk, Product Owner AI, Comi Collective Mind GmbH
- Fabian Plentz, COO, Rutronik Elektronische Bauelemente GmbH
- Christian Krebs, Head of Project & Process Management, Rutronik Elektronische Bauelemente GmbH
- Lennart Paul, Co-Founder & CEO, Bex Technologies GmbH
- Max Meister, Co-CEO, Ludwig Meister GmbH & Co. KG
- Joshua Linn, Founder and Managing Director, The Ocean Package
- Isabelle Gierl, Founder and Managing Director, KLAER Naturkosmetik
Moderation: Sandra Lehmann, Editor LOGISTIK HEUTE, HUSS-VERLAG GmbH
Participants will gain practical insights at the host of the day, Ludwig Meister GmbH & Co. KG in Dachau. On site, participants will take a look behind the logistics scenes
of the technical retailer and learn how the winner of the Supply Chain Management Award 2024 managed to optimize its supply chain with an improved data basis. There are systems to discover for the highly automated storage of items, AI-based robotics, and automated packaging.
"How to operate successful e-commerce with an appropriate strategy and the use of technology even in uncertain times can be observed particularly impressively at Ludwig Meister in Dachau. In exciting lectures, we also show how online retailers and companies address the current challenges in logistics and supply chain management. A must for anyone who wants to be well-positioned for the future," says Sandra Lehmann, editor of LOGISTIK HEUTE and moderator of the event.
Further information about the LOGISTIK HEUTE forum “Smart Supply Chains: Setting the Course in E-Commerce Logistics” and the link to registration can be found here.
