Zalando's ZEOS AI fulfillment solution boosted Next's sales 33% while cutting costs 6.5%. Learn how B2B ecommerce platforms use AI logistics to drive revenue and efficiency.
TL;DR
Zalando's B2B ecommerce solution ZEOS increased UK retailer Next's international online sales by 33% while reducing fulfillment costs by 6.5%. Levi's entrusted SCAYLE to operate levi.com across the US, Canada, and Europe. The B2B ecommerce solutions market is experiencing rapid growth, with AI-powered logistics optimization emerging as the key weapon for simultaneously controlling costs and boosting revenue.
In March 2026, Zalando, Europe's largest fashion ecommerce platform, announced impressive results. Beyond its B2C (consumer-facing) business, the company recorded notable growth in its B2B (business-to-business) ecommerce solutions division. What's particularly striking is that AI-based fulfillment optimization achieved both revenue growth and cost reduction simultaneously.
Ecommerce marketers and merchandisers might wonder, "What does a B2B solution have to do with us?" Actually, everything. When you examine how Zalando used AI to cut logistics costs while increasing sales by 33%, you'll discover insights immediately applicable to your brand or store.
What Made Zalando's B2B Solutions Different
Zalando partnered with global brands in 2025 through two B2B solutions.
SCAYLE — Global Contract with Levi's
SCAYLE is Zalando's ecommerce platform solution. Simply put, it's "We'll run your brand site using the exact system we use." Levi's chose this solution, entrusting Zalando with operating levi.com across the United States, Canada, and throughout Europe. Global brands can now manage multi-country sites through a single unified platform.
ZEOS — Next's 33% Sales Increase, 6.5% Cost Reduction
More intriguing is ZEOS, an AI-based fulfillment (logistics, inventory, delivery) optimization solution. When UK major retailer Next implemented ZEOS, international online sales increased 33% while fulfillment costs decreased 6.5%. Source: World Footwear
Why are these results remarkable? Typically, increasing sales means advertising and logistics costs rise together. However, ZEOS used AI to optimize inventory placement, delivery routes, and warehouse operations, reducing costs while growing revenue. This represents the "ultimate efficiency scenario" every ecommerce business dreams of achieving.
Curious how to apply this strategy to your store?
How AI Logistics Optimization Works
So what exactly does AI-based fulfillment do? It operates across three main areas.
1. Predictive Inventory Placement
AI learns from historical sales data, seasonality, and trends to predict "which products will sell in which regions and when." Based on these predictions, inventory is pre-positioned in nearby warehouses. When customers order, products ship from the closest warehouse, reducing both delivery time and shipping costs.
2. Dynamic Delivery Route Optimization
The system continuously adjusts delivery routes considering real-time traffic conditions, weather, and order volume. What a delivery driver might judge as "this route is fastest today," AI performs simultaneously for thousands of orders. This achieves both delivery time reduction and fuel cost savings.
3. Demand Forecasting-Based Inventory Management
Excess inventory consumes warehouse costs, while stockouts lose sales opportunities. AI predicts real-time demand, signaling "stock more of this product now" or "clear this through promotions quickly." Next's improved inventory turnover and reduced costs with ZEOS stem directly from this capability.
Zalando vs Traditional Logistics Solutions — Key Differences
The table below compares AI-based solutions like Zalando's ZEOS with traditional logistics solutions.
Category | Traditional Logistics | AI-Based Solutions (ZEOS, etc.) |
|---|---|---|
Inventory Placement | Manual analysis + experience-based | Real-time demand prediction + automated placement |
Delivery Routes | Fixed routes or manual adjustments | Real-time optimization (traffic/weather responsive) |
Cost Structure | Fixed-cost centered, inefficiencies occur | Variable cost optimization, minimal resource waste |
Revenue Impact | Logistics viewed as cost center | Logistics transformed into revenue-generating tool |
Implementation | System setup requires months | Cloud-based, rapid integration possible |
The key difference: Traditional logistics focused on "how to reduce costs," while AI-based solutions simultaneously solve "how to increase sales AND reduce costs." Logistics transforms from a simple cost center into a revenue-generating tool.
Can Small Sellers Adopt AI Logistics?
"But that's a story about massive platforms like Zalando. Isn't it irrelevant for small brands like ours?"
Not at all. In fact, now is the perfect time for small sellers to adopt AI logistics. Here's why:
SaaS-Based Solution Expansion — Services like Coupang Fulfillment, Naver Fulfillment, and Cafe24 Fulfillment already apply AI-based optimization. You can achieve similar effects using these services without operating large distribution centers.
Simple Implementation via API Integration — Platforms like Smart Store and Cafe24 easily integrate with external logistics solutions through APIs. You can apply AI logistics optimization without complex system construction.
Clear Cost-Benefit Ratio — As Zalando's case demonstrated, 6.5% logistics cost reduction directly improves margins. For a brand with $100K monthly revenue, that means several thousand dollars in annual savings.
Practical Application Points — What Ecommerce Marketers and MDs Should Do Now
So what should you do immediately for your brand or store? Remember these three things.
1. Accurately Understand Your Current Logistics Cost Structure
Break down shipping costs, warehouse storage fees, and return processing costs by category. You need to identify where inefficiencies occur to see improvement opportunities. Especially check inventory turnover rate and average delivery time.
2. Compare AI-Based Fulfillment Services
Multiple options exist: Coupang Rocket Growth, Naver Smart Store Fulfillment, Cafe24 Global Fulfillment, and others. Compare each service's fee structure, delivery speed, and inventory management features to select what fits your brand. The biggest platform isn't always the answer.
3. Establish Data-Driven Decision-Making Systems
The core of AI logistics optimization is data. Sales data, inventory data, and customer behavior data must connect in real-time for AI to function properly. Using CRM and analytics tools like Datarize enables real-time identification of customer purchase patterns, repurchase probability, and at-risk customers. Connecting this data with logistics optimization allows predicting "which regional customers are likely to repurchase when" and pre-positioning inventory accordingly.
Comparison: AI Fulfillment Platforms for SMB Ecommerce
Platform | Monthly Base Fee | Per-Order Fee | AI Features | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Coupang Fulfillment | None | $2-5 per item (size/weight based) | Predictive stocking, route optimization | High-volume sellers, fast delivery priority |
Naver Fulfillment | None | Commission-based per order | Smart Store data integration | Naver ecosystem sellers |
Cafe24 Global | Varies by plan | Tiered pricing | Multi-country inventory sync | Cross-border ecommerce |
Amazon FBA | Storage fees apply | $3-8 per item | Prime eligibility, demand forecasting | US/global market expansion |
Key insight: Choose based on your primary sales channel and customer geography. API integration capability is critical for maximizing AI benefits.
Try AI Personalization — Free
Datarize's AI engine automatically recommends the right products and messages for every customer.
FAQ — Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What does AI-based fulfillment solution implementation cost?
SaaS-based services typically use monthly subscription + per-order fee models. Coupang Fulfillment charges approximately $2-5 per item based on product size and weight, while Naver Fulfillment charges only per-order fees without monthly base fees. This is significantly cheaper and faster to start than building proprietary systems.
Q2. Can small brands achieve results like Zalando's?
Yes, absolutely. While scale differs, cost reduction percentages can be similar. If a brand with $50K monthly revenue reduces logistics costs by 6.5%, that's approximately $4K in annual savings. Smaller brands often feel margin improvement effects more dramatically.
Q3. How much does AI logistics optimization reduce delivery time?
Average reduction is 1-2 days. Predictive inventory placement means products ship from warehouses closest to customers, naturally accelerating delivery. Rural customers especially experience significant delivery time improvements. Faster delivery directly correlates with increased repurchase rates.
Q4. Can new brands with limited data use AI logistics?
AI accuracy improves with more data, but new brands can leverage industry average data or similar brand benchmarks. Using platform fulfillment services like Coupang or Naver means optimization occurs based on the platform's vast data reserves, so new brands can definitely benefit.
Q5. What's the most critical consideration when implementing AI logistics?
Data integration is essential. Sales channels (Smart Store, proprietary sites, etc.) and logistics systems must connect in real-time for AI to function properly. If API integration isn't available or manual input is required, effectiveness diminishes significantly. Always check system compatibility before implementation.
Conclusion — Logistics Is Now a Revenue-Generating Tool
Zalando proved it: AI-based logistics optimization is a powerful weapon that simultaneously achieves cost reduction and revenue growth. Logistics has evolved from simply "the cost of delivering products" to a revenue-generating tool that improves customer experience and drives repurchases.
Small brands have no reason to fall behind this trend. In fact, rapid adoption now can secure margin advantages over competitors. Analyze customer data with Datarize and optimize logistics with AI fulfillment. You'll start a virtuous cycle where costs decrease and revenue increases.
For more ecommerce insights, visit the Datarize Blog. Practical strategies ready for immediate implementation await you.
Image Alt Text Recommendations
Hero Image: "Zalando ZEOS AI-powered fulfillment dashboard showing real-time inventory optimization and delivery route mapping across European distribution centers"
Comparison Table Image: "Side-by-side comparison chart illustrating traditional logistics versus AI-based fulfillment solutions, highlighting cost reduction and revenue growth metrics"
Workflow Diagram: "Visual flowchart demonstrating how AI logistics optimization processes customer orders through predictive inventory placement, dynamic routing, and demand forecasting stages"
Case Study Graphic: "Infographic displaying Next retailer's 33% sales increase and 6.5% cost reduction results after implementing Zalando ZEOS fulfillment solution"
Platform Comparison: "Feature comparison matrix of major AI fulfillment platforms including Coupang, Naver, Cafe24, and Amazon FBA with pricing and capability breakdowns"
Related Articles
あわせて読みたいコンテンツ
最新のインサイトやニュースをニュースレターでお届けします。