THE ECD IS BACK IN THE RYTHM

On July 6th and after a three-year hiatus, the ECD welcomed for the 6th time 500+ participants to the Wappenhalle in Munich. With its impressive line-up of 29 workshops, speeches, and panel discussions, this year’s ECD offered invaluable insights into sustainability in fashion, multichannel marketing, and profitability within the DTC model, bringing together top brands, retailers, and marketplaces from 19 countries.

Between the Expert Stage in the Wappenhalle, the thriving Meeting Lounge and all the other stages in the Nemetschek Haus across the yard, a remarkable day unfolded, filled with a variety of standout components that showcase that ECD Spirit. The red line throughout the day this year was “drumbeat”, reflected by a mesmerizing 20-strong percussion group and the keynote of Tradebyte-CEO Matthias Schulte. One thing is for sure: if the industry runs with the beat of the ECDs visitors in terms of the will to collaborate and to take matters in their own hands, the future holds a rising curve of growth again for all of us.

NETWORKING LEADS TO KNOWLEDGE-SHARING

Networking, as well as the ECD, has come back in the form of something new and refreshing and in proper in-person style. The drumbeat of the ECD is to not only encourage and foster powerful business relations but also to give the ECD Community a renewed sense of purpose, armed with new ideas and connections that would propel their endeavors forward. This combination of inspiration, networking, entertainment, and knowledge-sharing made this event a resounding success. You could feel the energy right from the start at the exclusive Warm-up event, powered by P4 Markets, on the rooftop of the Nemetschek Haus. The vibe was there immediately, conversations began in the soft glow of the Munich sunset, only paused to get some sleep before the main event.

The first networking opportunity on the event day was taken by about 20 runners who joined us for a morning run. The three pacers offered the right tempo for everyone, making it easy to connect and have fun together. By the way, sports in general seem to be a good way to network, proved by the many table tennis matches played. The good conversations started throughout the day continued until the last song was played at the Aftershow Party.

For platform players, digital retail reverberates with the voices of customers, their desires, their aspirations, and demands. It speaks of convenience, customization, and connection — a symphony of untapped possibilities awaiting exploration. To truly flourish, businesses must embrace disruption, break free from conventional norms, and boldly rewrite the rules of engagement. Luckily the thought-provoking panel discussions and interactive workshops from industry leaders such as Scayle Commerce Engine, Zalando and Amazon, who shared insights on renewable energy, artificial intelligence, and the circular economy, provided attendees with invaluable knowledge and inspiration.

HERE ARE SOME TAKEAWAYS THAT WE COLLECTED:

1. Collaboration and Cross-Industry Partnerships: The ECD underscored the importance of collaboration and cross-industry partnerships in addressing global challenges, inspiring attendees to work together toward sustainable innovation.

2. Sustainability and Technological Advancements: Sustainable innovation was a central theme. Participants explored the roles of technology, renewable energy and disruptive startups in driving sustainable practices across various industries.

3. Inspiration and action: Attendees left with a renewed sense of purpose and a commitment to making a positive impact. The ECD provided inspiration, knowledge with actionable steps for attendees to implement sustainable practices within their own organizations and communities.

For ECD participants, the energy of that resounding drumbeat seemed to ignite their spirits, allowing it to guide their every move, infuse their journey with unwavering passion and inspire audacious leaps of creativity. That mesmerizing rhythm of innovation continued with an aftershow party hosted by DJ Markus Winter and powered by Brandsom, with the final few party-goers watching the sun rise again over Munich, fearlessly dancing and fully embracing the transformative power of human connection that makes a business successful.

The stage is now fully set for more ECD experiences like this one, where the beat echoes in your soul — will you rise to the challenge and embark on this exhilarating journey?

Then join us on October 26th for the ECD GLOBAL in Paris, which focuses on premium fashion and new fulfillment opportunities. Details to follow very soon!

Platform Business is People Business!

The ECD Team