Clients who grow with us
Many of our projects naturally evolve into long-term partnerships. In fact, we have been working alongside some of our clients for well over a decade.
How will technology, sustainability and customer focus shape the store of tomorrow?
On November 7, 2024, it was that time of year again: Our annual neuland Fachtag was held under the theme “The Store of the Future: Everything, Everywhere, All at Once.” Our customers, partner companies, and interested visitors gathered at our offices to explore the future of e-commerce together. It was a day filled with inspiring presentations, hands-on workshops, and lively discussions—all in line with our guiding principle of making innovation accessible.
Ed Sander: "Temu Demystified"
Ed Sander, China Digital Tech Researcher, had just returned from a research trip when he arrived at our Fachtag. He kicked off the day with an analysis of the phenomenon and shopping platform Temu. With its unbeatable prices and innovative business models, the Chinese platform has shaken up the global e-commerce world. Ed took us on a behind-the-scenes tour: How is Temu able to offer such low prices? What’s behind its success? And what does this mean for European retailers? An exciting insight: Temu analyzes its own potential strengths, translates them into ambitious goals, and pursues them rigorously. Simply being an online store isn’t enough. Without a focus on customer value, nothing works. Temu’s success is driven not only by strategy but also by technology—a wake-up call for anyone who wants to stay competitive.
Julia Pesch und Dr. Jens Finke: "The store of the future? Omnichannel!"
Julia Pesch, Senior Project Managerin at DOUGLAS, und Dr. Jens Finke, Product Owner at neuland, demonstrated how customers today expect seamless transitions between the online and offline worlds. Together with DOUGLAS, our long-standing client, we were able to make this a reality: A customer journey is no longer a straightforward path, but rather a complex interplay of various channels. Using real-world examples, they demonstrated that true integration is not only technically feasible but also crucial for customer satisfaction. Systems must be integrated: cross-channel logistics, consistent payment flows, and uniform data usage—these are the specific starting points that were emphasized in the presentation. neuland can actively support such solutions, including as services. The art lies in combining technology and emotion—an inspiring insight for the participants.
neuland-Talk: "Today in Tomorrow"
The morning’s presentations concluded with a keynote by neuland employees, which explored various topics that are already shaping the e-commerce of the future. Anita Schüttler spoke about the importance of the circular economy, Stefan Kuper discussed the potential of hyper-personalization, and Fabricius Seifert introduced us to the concept of “One Step of Abstraction and Back.” Susanne Nikoyo demonstrated how conversation can succeed without chatbots, and Michael Geers rounded out the keynote with a vision of the e-commerce UI of the future. Together, they painted a multifaceted picture of upcoming developments and drove home the central message: The future begins now—and everyone can actively help shape it.
Afternoon Hands-On Sessions: Workshops and New Formats
The afternoon was all about hands-on participation. Never before have we had so many afternoon sessions at one of our conferences—and for the first time, we also featured a “Shortlane”: three short, snappy 15-minute presentations. Whether through interactive sessions or inspiring brief presentations, participants were able to apply their knowledge directly and gain new perspectives. There was a special focus on innovation and improvement at the operational level—the teams and domains that operate on the shop floor.
Takeaways: What's left?
The future of e-commerce is revealing itself in all its complexity, and many aspects of it are already tangible today. One thing became clear: Innovation doesn’t always have to be big and expensive—often, it’s clever approaches and the targeted use of existing resources that make the decisive difference. Progress happens when we’re willing to break new ground while taking a pragmatic and goal-oriented approach. A key message was the realization that first steps don’t have to be perfect—their primary purpose is to evaluate potential. At the same time, it became clear that success lies in the details: solutions that truly fit emerge when processes and needs are deeply understood.
In Europe in particular, it’s clear that EU regulations alone won’t save e-commerce. Instead, there needs to be a clear focus on a few regulatory areas that are consistently implemented—such as product quality and the pricing of climate costs. Here, companies like neuland can help by actively shaping and supporting relevant areas.
We look to the future with enthusiasm and look forward to thinking ahead together.
We’d like to thank all participants for this inspiring day full of ideas, connections, and fresh perspectives. You made this symposium something special. We’re already looking forward to the next neuland symposium and to continuing to shape the future together with you!
Stay curious—see you next time!