Can’t-miss openings at E-commerce Berlin Expo 2026!
Learn more about conference opening speeches at the 10th edition of E-commerce Berlin Expo 2026, coming soon in February!
E-commerce Berlin Expo 2026 is shaping up to be an outstanding event. This year, our conference agenda is particularly strong, featuring engaging panel discussions, memorable live podcasts, and over 150+ speakers from globally recognized brands and retailers such as MediaMarktSaturn, flaconi, Breuninger, and Fielmann – alongside exciting new-com players, like saint sass, Glow25, Snocks, ESN, More Nutrition and industry giants such as Google and TikTok.
Do you know what else is strong?
Our conference opening speeches.
Scroll down to discover which talks you can expect on the main stage on Day 1 and Day 2 of the conference, starting at 10:00 AM, and who will be presenting them.
And if you haven’t registered yet, don’t wait and secure your spot now:
Opening speech day 1: Scale Up AI or Die: Warum E-Commerce-Unternehmen jetzt AI-First werden müssen – oder verschwinden, given by Marcus Diekmann, Chief Strategy, Digital & eCommerce Officer at Sanicare
In this keynote held in German, you’ll dive into the hottest topic in the industry over the past year and so: AI and how it will impact companies that fail to keep up in the race.
The session will be presented by Marcus Diekmann, Chief Strategy, Digital & eCommerce Officer at Sanicare, who will explain why companies that do not radically transform from a traditional e-commerce setup into an AI-first commerce organization risk falling behind and ultimately failing.
This keynote will open with a clear snapshot of the industry:
What still works today and what no longer scales structurally.
You’ll also find out what AI-first DNA actually means. And not as a tooling question, but as a fundamental shift in:
- the customer and how value is created
- organizational decision-making
- roles, processes, and responsibility
Marcus Diekmann will show you how companies can rebuild from the customer outward, what this transformation realistically means for teams and leadership, where the real opportunities and risks lie and which next steps matter now.
No buzzwords.
No future hype.
Just clarity on what it takes to build an AI-first commerce company today.
More about our speaker:
Marcus Diekmann is a digital transformation leader, entrepreneur, bestselling author, and keynote speaker with more than 20 years of experience in e-commerce, retail, and platform businesses. He has led and advised companies ranging from mid-sized organizations to large enterprises, focusing on scaling digital commerce, organizational transformation, and AI-first business models. Marcus is known for his clear, pragmatic perspective on change and his ability to translate complex transformation challenges into concrete, actionable steps for leadership teams.
This speech is definitely a strong beginning to our first day and something you shouldn’t miss! Make sure to be there, 10:00 AM sharp!
Opening speech day 2: Amazon vs. TEMU vs. Shein vs. YOU! given by Alexander Graf, CEO of Spryker
According to the keynote speaker, Alexander Graf, CEO of Spryker, the e-commerce gold rush is over – and what remains is a ruthless survival of the fittest.
In this talk he’ll get you attention to the fact that while many retailers are still obsessing over SEO hacks and shipping costs, Temu and Shein have already rewritten the rulebook by controlling both the factory floor and the customer’s attention.
Meanwhile, Amazon – the former king of the hill – faces a defining moment: Will it remain the “Operating System” of commerce, or devolve into a bargain bin for cheap goods?
In this provocative keynote, the author of Kassenzone will deconstruct the shifting power dynamics. You won’t be there to listen to “omnichannel dreams,” but about a brutal systemic battle between global giants and local relevance.
In this keynote you’ll find out just why most of today’s business models are already “the walking dead” and what radical levers are left for your business to avoid becoming invisible in the shadow of these platform extremes.
Alexander Graf promises no feel-good buzzwords and fluff. Just the hard truth about the future of retail. Buckle up, it’s going to be a rough ride!
More about our speaker:
Alexander Graf is the founder and editor of Kassenzone, the leading strategy platform for digital commerce. As one of the industry’s most prominent thought leaders, he has spent over a decade deconstructing the business models of global digital giants. Renowned for his “no-nonsense” analytical style and data-backed provocations, Alexander consistently challenges the status quo of retail and manufacturing. Beyond his work as an author and podcaster, he is the Co-Founder of Spryker and co-author of “The E-Commerce Book.” When Alexander takes the stage, he moves past the hype to reveal the brutal realities of surviving and thriving in the platform economy.
The talk will also include many predictions for the e-commerce market of 2026, the topic which electrifies everyone as we’re stepping into the new year of this ever changing industry. Be sure to be there on day 2 of our event, main stage, 10:00 AM sharp!
And if you want to see our agenda, go there and find out who else and what talks you can expect after these two big openings at 17 and 18th February of the E-commerce Berlin Expo:
See you at E-commerce Berlin Expo 2026! Make sure to be there on time for our big openings!
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