Zalando Logistics Strategy: Shifting to Automation and Efficiency
- NOA
- 2 days ago
- 6 min read
In a decisive move that signals the future direction of European e-commerce logistics, Zalando has announced plans to fundamentally reshape its fulfillment network starting in 2025. According to an official corporate statement, the fashion platform will discontinue operations at its logistics sites in Brieselang and Erfurt, Germany, by mid-2026. This decision impacts two of the company's earliest facilities, marking a transition away from manual processing toward highly automated, scalable infrastructure designed for the next decade of commerce.
This restructuring is not merely a cost-cutting measure but a reflection of the rapid evolution within the wider supply chain sector. As customer demands for speed increase and labor availability fluctuates, major players like Zalando are pivoting away from legacy infrastructure. The shift underscores a critical industry trend: the necessity of retrofitting or replacing first-generation e-commerce warehouses with facilities capable of supporting complex B2B and B2C ecosystems. The reorganization involves key stakeholders, including employees at the German sites and partners in the burgeoning French market, where capacity is being aggressively expanded.
If you are a logistics professional observing this transition, this article breaks down the strategic rationale behind Zalando's network overhaul. We will explore why automation is driving geographical shifts in warehousing, how the new site in Montereau-sur-le-Jard changes the distribution map, and what this means for the future of logistics capacity in Western Europe.
Why Is Zalando Closing the Brieselang and Erfurt Fulfillment Centers?
The decision to close the Brieselang and Erfurt facilities represents a move away from legacy infrastructure that can no longer support modern scalability requirements. According to Zalando COO David Schröder, these sites, which were instrumental in the company’s early growth, lack the physical infrastructure required for advanced automation.
Three primary factors are driving the closure of these specific German sites:
Obsolescence of Manual Processes: Both Brieselang and Erfurt were designed during an earlier era of e-commerce. Retrofitting these buildings with the robotics and conveyor systems used in newer sites like Zeewolde, Netherlands, is deemed operationally unfeasible.
Cost Efficiency: Maintaining manual-heavy sites becomes increasingly expensive compared to the cost-per-unit metrics achievable in fully automated centers.
Strategic Consolidation: By consolidating volume into newer, higher-capacity sites, Zalando can streamline inventory management and reduce fragmentation across its network.
The Brieselang site is scheduled to cease operations by June 2026. This timeline gives the company a runway to transition volumes to other nodes in the network without disrupting service levels. For supply chain managers, this serves as a case study in lifecycle management—knowing when an asset has reached the end of its strategic utility is just as important as acquiring new ones.
How Does the New Site in Montereau-sur-le-Jard Transform the Network?
As operations wind down in parts of Germany, Zalando is aggressively ramping up capacity in France. The new fulfillment center in Montereau-sur-le-Jard, located southeast of Paris, is a cornerstone of this new logistics strategy. This facility is not just a replacement for lost capacity; it is a technological upgrade designed to serve the dense Western European market more effectively.
The strategic advantages of the Montereau-sur-le-Jard facility include:
Proximity to Key Demographics: By placing inventory closer to French customers, Zalando reduces last-mile delivery times and transportation costs. This supports the "local-for-local" logistics philosophy that is gaining traction across the industry to combat rising fuel costs and sustainability concerns.
Integration of Advanced Automation: Unlike the outgoing German sites, the French facility is built from the ground up to house state-of-the-art intralogistics technology. This allows for faster throughput times and higher storage density, essential for managing the vast SKU counts typical of fashion retail.
According to the corporate announcement, the ramp-up of this site, alongside the continued optimization of the Zeewolde, Netherlands facility, ensures that Zalando maintains ample capacity. For logistics planners, this illustrates the importance of geographic diversification. Relying too heavily on a single region (like Central Germany) can limit agility, whereas a distributed network allows for better service coverage across the continent.
What Role Does the "Ecosystem Strategy" Play in This Restructuring?
The logistical changes are deeply rooted in Zalando's broader shift from a simple retailer to a platform ecosystem. The company is increasingly acting as a logistics provider for its partners through its ZEOS (Zalando E-Commerce Operating System) initiative. This B2B component requires a different logistical approach than pure B2C retail.
Key components of the ecosystem-driven logistics model include:
Multi-Channel Fulfillment Capabilities: The network must be able to handle wholesale shipments for brands alongside individual customer parcels. Older sites like Erfurt were primarily optimized for traditional B2C picking and packing, making them less adaptable to this hybrid model.
Standardization Across Borders: To offer brands a seamless logistics service, Zalando needs a network of standardized, highly automated nodes. The newer sites in France and the Netherlands offer this consistency, allowing for predictable service level agreements (SLAs) that partners can rely on.
David Schröder emphasized that reshaping the network is about "creating more value for customers and partners." In logistics terms, this means the network is being optimized not just for the speed of a single package, but for the efficiency of the entire value chain. This evolution suggests that future logistics networks will need to be flexible enough to handle inventory for third parties, not just proprietary stock.
How Will These Changes Impact Logistics Employment in Germany?
The closure of the Brieselang and Erfurt sites inevitably raises questions about the workforce. While the focus of this analysis is on network strategy, the human element is a critical factor in any supply chain restructuring. Zalando has initiated consultations with employee representatives and works councils to manage the transition responsibly.
The implications for the labor market in these regions include:
Transfer Opportunities: Discussions are underway to explore transfer options for employees to other Zalando units or partners where feasible.
Market Absorption: As logistics remains a high-demand sector in Germany, the release of skilled warehouse personnel back into the workforce may benefit other logistics providers in the Berlin and Thuringia regions who are currently facing labor shortages.
For logistics executives, the takeaway here is the importance of stakeholder management during network optimization. Closing a facility is a complex legal and social process, particularly in Germany, and requires long lead times—evident in the announcement being made well ahead of the mid-2026 deadline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When will Zalando close the Brieselang and Erfurt logistics sites?
A: Zalando plans to close the Brieselang fulfillment center by June 2026. The closure of the Erfurt site will follow a similar timeline as part of the broader network consolidation occurring throughout 2026.
Q: Why is Zalando shifting operations to France and the Netherlands?
A: Zalando is shifting focus to sites in Montereau-sur-le-Jard, France, and Zeewolde, Netherlands, because these modern facilities feature advanced automation that the older German sites lack. This allows for higher efficiency and better proximity to Western European customers.
Q: How does the new Montereau-sur-le-Jard facility improve Zalando's logistics?
A: The Montereau-sur-le-Jard facility improves logistics by utilizing state-of-the-art automation technologies that reduce processing costs and speed up fulfillment. Additionally, its location near Paris shortens delivery times for the substantial French customer base.
Q: What happens to the employees at the closing German sites?
A: Zalando is currently in negotiations with works councils and employee representatives to find socially responsible solutions. This includes potential transfers, support programs, and leveraging the long lead time before the 2026 closures to assist the workforce.
Q: Will these closures affect Zalando's delivery speeds in Germany?
A: The closures are not expected to negatively impact delivery speeds in Germany, as the volume will be redistributed to other existing sites within the robust European network. The goal is to maintain capacity while increasing overall network efficiency.
Key Takeaways
Shift to Automation: Zalando is retiring legacy manual sites in Brieselang and Erfurt to focus on fully automated facilities like Zeewolde and Montereau-sur-le-Jard.
Timeline for Closure: The Brieselang facility is scheduled to cease operations by June 2026, providing a clear transition window for supply chain adjustments.
Strategic Geography: Opening the Montereau-sur-le-Jard site places inventory closer to French consumers, reducing transit times and last-mile costs.
Ecosystem Alignment: The new network structure is designed to support Zalando's B2B platform strategy, requiring facilities that can handle complex partner logistics.
Infrastructure Obsolescence: The move highlights that warehouses built over a decade ago (2011-2012) may no longer be viable for modern, high-volume e-commerce without massive retrofitting.
Capacity Maintenance: Despite closing two sites, Zalando projects that the ramp-up of new sites will maintain or exceed current total network capacity.
Zalando's decision to reshape its logistics network by closing the Brieselang and Erfurt sites in favor of high-tech facilities in France and the Netherlands marks a pivotal moment in European logistics. It demonstrates that in the current competitive landscape, the age and technological capability of a warehouse are just as critical as its location. By prioritizing automation and ecosystem integration, Zalando is positioning itself to handle the complexities of future commerce, where speed, cost-efficiency, and partner services converge.
Looking ahead to 2026, logistics professionals should watch how other major e-commerce players respond to this trend of network consolidation. The era of expanding footprint at any cost is over; the new focus is on asset quality and automation density. To stay ahead of these supply chain shifts and understand how they impact capacity across Europe, subscribe to our newsletter for real-time analysis and expert insights.
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