Zalando has introduced ZEOS, its new operating system for the fashion and lifestyle industry.
ZEOS – short for ‘Zalando E-Commerce Operating System’ – will enable brand partners and retailers to control their multi-channel sales via a unified platform, Zalando announced on Tuesday. The new service is based on a multi-channel fulfillment solution that the Berlin online retailer “successfully” tested last year and will in future be available under ‘ZEOS Fulfillment’.
“The European market offers great opportunities for fashion and lifestyle brands and retailers. At the same time, it is difficult for them to gain a foothold because consumer expectations are high and the importance of shopping platforms is increasing,” says Jan Bartels, Senior Vice President B2B at Zalando. “This leads to fragmentation and increased complexity. With ZEOS, our vision is to unlock Europe’s full potential and provide brands and retailers with solutions to manage their multi-channel sales through a unified platform.”
Brands and partners have to send their goods to one of Zalando’s 12 logistics centers and the rest will be taken care of by the new service. There are over 40 transport partners available with more than 160 delivery and return options in 23 European markets. It doesn’t matter whether a purchase was made via Zalando, the brand’s own online shop or on other European shopping platforms.
30 brands and retailers such as Pepe Jeans, Marks & Spencer and the Polish shoe and accessories brand Kazar are already using the service, which will gradually be expanded to other markets and sales channels.
“This partnership has not only revolutionized the logistics of our marketplaces, but also set the stage for further growth and success,” said Federica Miselli, Global Digital Business Director at AWWG Group, which includes the Pepe Jeans London, Hackett and Façonnable brands. “We now have the opportunity to easily expand our offering across various digital sales channels – with significantly shorter delivery times.”
ZEOS operates as an independently operating unit of Zalando SE and employs around 350 people at its Berlin and Stockholm locations.