The doors opened. The stages lit up. Thousands of e-commerce professionals flooded into STATION Berlin for Day 1 of E-commerce Berlin Expo 2025.
With hundreds of exhibitors, packed stages, and countless networking opportunities, the first day delivered a powerhouse of insights, debates, and future-forward strategies.
Here’s what went down on Day 1 – and why the energy is only building for Day 2!
A grand opening to set the tone
No event of this scale starts quietly.
First, Efe von Thenen, Chairman of the Advisory Board of E-commerce Berlin Expo, hit the stage with an unmissable deep dive into the ‘State of German E-commerce 2025’ – a must-attend session for anyone looking to tackle the country’s developing market.
Then Franziska Giffey, Berlin’s State Senator for Economy, Energy, and Enterprise, officially opened the Expo with a keynote on Berlin’s role in shaping global e-commerce innovation. She also shared a heavily guarded secret – transfer of our event next year to Messe Berlin, which is among the world’s ten leading trade fair companies operating their own exhibition grounds!
Our great exhibitors wait for your attention
We don’t disappoint so you will find only the most interesting brand in e-commerce area! Among them you can find big names like eBay, Amazon Freight, Sage and Riverty, along with JTL-Software, DOOFINDER, Kaufland Global Marketplace, Descartes Systems, Smarketer, solution25 and many others!
Don’t miss the chance to see the latest innovations from the world of e-commerce and visit their booths while you still can!
Globally recognized brands set the agenda
Some of the globally recognized brands took over the stages on Day 1, delivering bold predictions, case studies, and strategies to stay ahead.
Heavy-hitters included:
- MediaMarktSaturn – Discussing their latest service innovations like the cooperation with Uber for instant delivery of online orders and the introduction of parcel shops (parcel-drop-off-and-pick up points / PUDO) and parcel locker.
- Amazon Freight -Speaking about taking control of your supply chain real-time tracking & data-driven insights
- Deutsche Telekom – Addressing how hyperpersonalization is shaping the future of retail
- H&M – Talking about aligning their digital presence with their brand identity, shaping H&M’s future as a global fashion leader, and creating meaningful connections with customers across all touchpoints
- OTTO – Talking about its secrets to Black Friday success
Attendees didn’t just hear theories! They got hands-on strategies for scaling their business and creating seamless digital experiences that drive results.
AI & Tech: the future is NOW
AI isn’t the future of e-commerce—it’s already here, and Day 1 proved it.
💡 Some standout AI & tech sessions included:
- Microsoft Advertising’s Stephanie Boedige on how AI is reshaping the advertising landscape
- Alibaba’s Patrick Kuehl on how AI will redefine sourcing and product development
- Deloitte’s Elisabeth L’Orange on how AI influences our world ethically, politically, and beyond.
For businesses looking to stay competitive in 2025 and beyond, these talks offered tangible use cases and fresh perspectives with focus on AI which will be more and more important for the e-commerce industry in upcoming years.
Shop-tech block: building better platforms
A dedicated space for platform innovation, the Shop-tech block delivered game-changing insights from:
✔️ Wilfried Beeck (Founder & CEO, ePages) & Alexander Trautmann (Head of Product Engineering, Sage) – Explored how AI-powered networks and data-driven strategies can level the playing field for SMBs, helping them compete with industry giants.
✔ ️ Sebastian Hamann (Founder & Co-CEO, Shopware) – Shed light on the future of commerce and the innovations that are shaping it.
✔ Michael Türk (VP of Solution Engineering, Spryker) – Helped Expo’s participants discover how agility, attention, and cutting-edge strategies are transforming the marketplace.
✔ Sebastian Evers (CEO, JTL Software) – Explained in detail the role of innovation as a driver of success in retail
✔ Hartmut König (CTO Central Europe, Adobe) – Helped decision-makers from marketing and commerce technology learn how they can create personalised content along the entire value chain through the targeted use of AI.
Panels: Where the biggest debates happened
Unfiltered, unscripted, and packed with real insights – this year’s panel discussions tackled e-commerce’s most pressing topics head-on.
- Four perspectives on AI in digital commerce – Meta’s Volker Harbrecht, OTTO’s Jörg Heinemann, Glambou’s Philipp Engelmann, and ex-Nespresso’s Veronica Demschik dissected AI’s true potential. They explored what’s hype, what works, and how to integrate AI without breaking operations.
- Strategies for profitable DTC growth – optimized warehouse logistics and data transparency as a formula for success for Sugarshape and United Brands Group – SugarShape’s Christian Schönborn, Onskinery’s Christoph Holinski, and minubo’s Andreas Fischer, moderated by Dirk Haschke (Descartes Systems), dived deep into logistics, KPIs, and sustainable scaling in DTC.
Masterclasses: the most practical 35 minutes of the Day
For those who wanted hands-on learning, Day 1’s Masterclasses delivered intensive, no-fluff sessions packed with real-world tactics.
Companies like Artavo, AWS, Trustpilot, Brevo and Klaviyo all shared their strategies.
These small-group deep dives ensured that attendees left with strategies they could apply immediately – not just theoretical knowledge. And, masterclasses are to continue on Day 2!
You can’t miss E-commerce Berlin Expo 2026!
Feeling left out? No need! The next edition of E-commerce Berlin Expo will take place on February 17-18, 2026, and remains completely free for attendees. More information on the official event website: www.ecommerceberlin.com
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