Over 500 visitors, 400 one-to-one meetings, 30 lectures and panels and an after show party with a big surprise – the ECD on May 3rd has once again outdone itself in its fourth year. “One can say without a doubt that this was the most successful ECD ever”, says Tradebyte managing director Matthias Schulte. But what was the decisive factor for the renewed increase?
Matthias Schulte took up this idea in his address to the 500 participants in the morning in the Wappenhalle. He listed various reasons that could be responsible for this, but then came to the conclusion: „The real reason for the success of the ECD is you, our guests.“ He underlined this statement with the motto of the day, which from then on is the motto for the ECD itself: „Platform Business is People Business.“ The platform economy and business models for the marketplace business were of course again the central themes of the event. But there was more, a thought that Schulte formulated in his address that evening: “We are all founders here and are in the midst of digital transformation. Let us be brave, show a pioneering spirit and take the step into the digital future. „
It was also a future topic that determined one of the programmatic innovations of the ECD. Melanie Mohr, CEO of the video shopping app YEAY, introduced the astonished viewers to the consumer world of Generation Z with her keynote “GenZ as the indicators of future markets and future commerce”. Video shopping of small labels, cryptocurrencies and blockchain – the knowledge gained about the needs of what is currently the youngest group of buyers was enormous. The format of a visionary keynote will certainly remain part of the ECD program.
The already unique event format and program offered all market participants – including top dogs such as Zalando, Otto, Digitech Galaxus or real.de – the opportunity to exchange ideas and promote their ideas together. „It’s about the network and know-how against the background of exploiting sales potential in e-commerce,“ explains Matthias Schulte. “As Tradebyte, we are only an enabler, i.e. the platform. The DNA of the ECD is the conversation, the dialogue, directly from decision-maker to decision-maker in a relaxed atmosphere. „
Once again, the event was sold out weeks in advance. The Meeting Lounge, the heart of the ECD, was more frequented than ever before and even on the lawn behind the Wappenhalle, when the temperature was just early summer, quite a few intensive conversations took place. Speakers and panel experts gave insights into their business models in front of a full audience in the Session SLOT, the Best Practice SLOT and the Channels SLOT. Manufacturers, dealers, consultants and service providers chatted from the sewing box in a relaxed atmosphere and, on many occasions, unexpectedly let themselves be looked at. The format of the Deep Dive SLOT was also new, in which Tradebyte experts gave insights into processes and innovations relating to the Tradebyte software in small interactive groups.
This year’s motto was again “Play Digital” and complemented itself perfectly with Matthias Schulte’s thoughts on “People Business”. Staying playful, thinking creatively, being quick and courageous – you could literally feel the optimism during the day. Feinkost Käfer shone with fantastic catering throughout the day. Shortly after dinner there was actually a little surprise: After a light show, the curtain opened in the Wappenhalle, the meeting lounge had disappeared and turned into a veritable club. It didn’t take DJ Markus Winter long to get the ECD guests dancing. The eventful and impressive day of the conference turned into an exuberant party that lasted until the early hours of the morning.
Experience the ECD 2018 in action again: Click here for the video.
