Selling on Zalando and Otto with Odoo: European Marketplace Integration Guide

Germany is Europe's largest eCommerce market, and two platforms dominate beyond Amazon: Zalando (fashion and lifestyle) and Otto (general merchandise). For brands expanding into Europe, these platforms are essential channels — and integrating them with Odoo ensures your European operations scale efficiently.

The German eCommerce Landscape

Germany is unique among European eCommerce markets:

• Marketplace dominance — Over 50% of online retail flows through marketplaces
• Return-friendly culture — German return rates average 30-50% for fashion, driven by the right to return within 14 days (EU Consumer Rights Directive)
• Invoice payment preference — Many German shoppers prefer Kauf auf Rechnung (buy now, pay on invoice)
• Strict data privacy — GDPR compliance is actively enforced in Germany
• Environmental regulations — Packaging law (VerpackG) and extended producer responsibility requirements

Zalando Partner Program

Zalando's Partner Program gives brands direct access to 50+ million active European customers:

Integration Features

The Zalando Store Management module handles:

• Product feeds — Zalando's product data model with fashion-specific attributes (material composition, care instructions, season)
• Size system mapping — European, UK, US, and brand-specific sizes mapped to Zalando's size standards
• Inventory sync — Real-time stock updates to prevent overselling
• Order import — Including Zalando's buyer information (anonymized per GDPR requirements)
• Shipment confirmation — Tracking number push to Zalando for customer notification
• Return processing — High-volume return handling with reason code tracking

Zalando-Specific Requirements

• Minimum content quality — Zalando has strict image and description guidelines
• Zalando Fulfillment Solutions (ZFS) — Optional fulfillment through Zalando warehouses
• Zalando Marketing Services — Campaign cost tracking in Odoo
• Multi-country pricing — Different prices for DE, FR, NL, IT, ES, etc.

Otto Marketplace

Otto is Germany's second-largest online retailer:

Integration Features

The Otto Store Management module provides:

• Product listing via Otto's Partner API
• Inventory management with real-time sync
• Order processing with Otto-specific shipping requirements
• Returns handling adapted to Otto's return policies
• Settlement reconciliation for Otto payouts

Otto-Specific Considerations

• Shipping SLAs — Otto requires shipment within 2 business days
• Packaging standards — Otto has specific requirements for packaging materials and labeling
• Customer service — Otto handles first-level customer service; escalations route to sellers
• Product compliance — CE marking, WEEE registration, and German-language product safety information required

European VAT and Compliance

Selling across Europe through Zalando and Otto requires:

VAT (Mehrwertsteuer)

• OSS (One-Stop-Shop) registration for cross-border B2C sales within the EU
• Standard VAT rates vary by country (19% Germany, 20% France, 21% Netherlands, etc.)
• Reduced rates for specific product categories
• Reverse charge for B2B cross-border transactions

Odoo's fiscal position system handles EU VAT complexity with automatic tax rate selection based on customer location and transaction type.

Packaging Law (VerpackG)

Germany requires all businesses putting packaging into the German market to:

• Register with LUCID (packaging register)
• License packaging volumes with a dual system operator
• Report packaging quantities annually

WEEE (Electrical Equipment)

For electronics sellers:

• Registration with the EAR foundation
• Take-back obligations for electrical equipment
• WEEE registration number on all product listings

Managing European Returns

European return rates, especially for fashion on Zalando, require robust reverse logistics:

• Return reason analytics — Track why items are returned (too small, too large, not as expected, defective)
• Quality inspection workflow — Returned items go through inspection before restocking
• Restocking rules — Automated rules for which returns can be restocked vs. written off
• Refund processing — Automatic refund creation in Odoo upon return receipt

Getting Started with European Marketplaces

1. Install Zalando and/or Otto Store Management modules
2. Register as a partner on each platform
3. Configure EU VAT settings and fiscal positions
4. Set up product feeds with European-compliant content
5. Enable order sync and returns handling
6. Configure settlement import and multi-currency accounting

Explore our European marketplace modules or contact us for guidance on entering the European market with Odoo.