Germany has one of the largest eCommerce markets in Europe, making it a key location in the industry. In 2024, total eCommerce sales reached €80.6 billion. This makes Germany Europe’s second-largest e-commerce market, driven by high internet penetration rates and substantial consumer spending.

Of course, with growth comes new services, all aiming to improve customer experience along the shipping journey. It’s important for retailers and logistics providers to stay in know about the latest developments in the countries they’re expanding to. Here’s what you need to know.

Real-time tracking

In the competitive landscape of German Commerce, real-time shipment tracking has become a standard expectation among consumers. A 2023 survey revealed that nearly 80% of German online shoppers valued receiving updates one to two hours before their delivery. Advanced tracking systems, used by major retailers like Amazon DE and carriers such as DHL, enhance customer satisfaction by providing timely updates and reducing uncertainties about delivery times.

Implementing real-time shipment tracking can significantly improve customer experience, making it a crucial feature for businesses looking to succeed in the German market.

Many carriers accessible through Intersoft’s carrier management system have diverse tracking options, including Royal Mail. These carriers can offer …… updates on parcels coming in and out of Germany, offering customers peace of mind.

The growing challenge of managing returns

Returns are a significant aspect of the e-commerce logistics landscape in Germany. Approximately 530 million parcels were returned in 2021. That’s almost 1 out of every 4 packages.

Recent data from 2024 shows that German online shoppers return about 11% of their purchases on average, with younger consumers and women returning items at higher rates. Common reasons include sizing issues, damaged goods, and inaccurate product descriptions, highlighting a huge need for better digital tools and clearer product information to reduce return volumes.

As eCommerce continues to grow and sustainability becomes a more critical concern, the need to keep return rates low will become ever more pressing.

Parcel Lockers and out-of-home delivery solutions

Parcel lockers and out-of-home delivery solutions are becoming increasingly popular in Germany. For example, Deutsche Post has significantly expanded its network of automated parcel machines, known as Packstations, from approximately 7,000 in 2021 to over 10,000 by 2022, and it has now reached over 13,500 in 2025.

This growth is reflected in customer buy-in, too. The use of parcel lockers rose from 9.8% in 2019 to 13.3% in the first half of 2020, indicating a growing consumer preference for this delivery method. Parcel lockers operate round-the-clock, allowing customers to collect their packages at any time, minimising the chances of missed deliveries common with home delivery attempts.

Cross-border eCommerce and expanding internationally

Germany accounted for approximately 28.5% of the European cross-border e-commerce market in 2021, valued at around €3.62 billion. In 2024, German exports to the UK experienced a significant increase, growing by 5.3% year-on-year and reaching approximately €67.6 billion between January and October.

With such a robust infrastructure and consumer base, Germany is an attractive market for international businesses looking to expand and to later develop operations in other areas across Europe.

Scale smarter with Intersoft

Expanding your carrier network is key to succeeding in the fast-growing German eCommerce market.

With a single API integration, Intersoft can enable access multiple domestic and international carriers, streamline delivery and returns, and stay ahead of customer expectations with real-time tracking.

Carriers you can access to get started shipping to and from Germany:

Ready to broaden your reach? Come talk to us about what our carriers can offer.