Welcome to the E-commerce Germany News Podcast powered by the E-commerce Berlin Expo.In this EGN Podcast episode, host Efe von Thenen sits down for an in-depth conversation with Friedrich Schwandt, the CEO of ECDB and Founder & Chairman of Statista. Friedrich takes listeners on a journey through his impressive career, sharing insights into how data-driven decisions are transforming e-commerce. Together, they discuss major trends, challenges, and innovations that are reshaping digital retail. Friedrich offers valuable perspectives on the future of e-commerce, including strategies around profitability, cross-border expansion, and leveraging data to adapt in competitive markets.
Throughout the episode, Friedrich dives into his career journey, detailing his shift from academia to industry and why he’s so passionate about creating platforms that offer impactful data insights. He discusses the evolution of Statista from a small startup to a global data powerhouse and shares the thought process behind launching ECDB, a platform that provides real-time data on e-commerce transactions and market insights. Along the way, he provides a deep dive into the most pressing challenges e-commerce companies face today, including the importance of profitability, the impact of cross-border sales, and the nuances of customer loyalty in a data-driven world.
🟠 Interested in being a guest on our podcast? Reach out to us at pr@ecommerceberlin.com
Timestamps:
(00:00:00) Introduction
(00:04:05) Friedrich’s journey from academia to industry
(00:06:20) Overview of Statista’s purpose and growth
(00:07:10) Evolution of Statista: From idea to international market leader
(00:13:26) Milestones at Statista and the decision to sell the company
(00:16:45) Founding ECDB: Friedrich's passion for creation and impact
(00:19:20) What is ECDB? Insights into the ECDB data platform for e-commerce
(00:21:58) Who are the ECDB's customers?
(00:23:57) Who benefits from ECDB data?
(00:27:23) ECDB Business model
(00:28:50) Market developments in Germany and beyond
(00:33:31) Trends in e-commerce: Cross-border, marketplaces, and profitability
(00:39:00) Importance of profitability and long-term strategies for e-commerce
(00:44:13) Customer retention and value-based pricing insights
(00:47:49) Brand building in e-commerce: Balancing performance with loyalty
(00:51:47) Friedrich’s final insights on the evolution of e-commerce
(00:58:40) Closing Remarks
