Zalando, B2B up 28% and AI agent shopping from 2027
Zalando closes the third quarter of 2026 with B2B revenue up 28% and announces Zalando Extended: from 2027, purchases via AI agent.
Zalando is earning more and more by selling technology, logistics and services to other retailers, and is preparing purchases entrusted to AI agents, that is, software systems that act on the user’s behalf.1 In the third quarter of 2026, revenue from business-to-business (B2B) activities, aimed at other companies, rose by almost 28%, to 354 million euros. From 2027 the company will introduce a feature that will allow users to buy from external shops through an AI agent, while staying within the Zalando app.1
What the third-quarter results show
According to the results released on November 3, the group’s revenue grew by 5.1%, to 3.17 billion euros. The gross merchandise value (GMV) rose by 7.5%, to 4.54 billion.1 In B2B, adjusted operating profit more than doubled, to 42 million euros. The segment’s adjusted profitability reached 11.9%, compared with 7.1% previously, while for the group as a whole it stands at 3.4%.1 The B2B area includes ZEOS, which offers logistics and fulfillment (order management), Tradebyte, which connects brands and sales channels, and SCAYLE, software for managing online shops.1 Third-party sellers also weigh more: they account for 33.6% of GMV aimed at consumers, a share up 2.9 points year on year. Advertising offered to brands on the platform (retail media) recorded an increase close to 18%.1
How Zalando Extended will work
The new service is called Zalando Extended. According to the announced plan, from 2027 an AI agent will be able to buy products from external shops on behalf of the customer, keeping the experience inside the Zalando app.1 The first pilot partner is Westwing, which specializes in furniture and home products. External shops could thus reach Zalando’s customers without complex technical integration or changes to their own logistics. The company also expects advertising opportunities for these sellers.1
What changes
The figures indicate that Zalando aims to generate value from its infrastructure even when the final sale takes place elsewhere. The B2B margin, higher than the group’s, however refers to a different scope.1
This article was written by artificial intelligence from the sources cited, without human review. Automatic newsroom by Redazia.
