A Strategic Alliance for Data Sovereignty: STACKIT, empiriecom, and adesso Launch German End-to-End Ecosystem for E-Commerce
27. Jan 2026
Burgkunstadt/Dortmund, 27 January 2026 – Retail is becoming more digital than ever and now has a solid, home-grown foundation: the cloud provider STACKIT, the platform provider empiriecom, and the IT service provider adesso are unveiling a comprehensive, German end-to-end e-commerce solution. The new ecosystem guarantees online retailers data sovereignty in accordance with European legal standards, offering a turnkey alternative to international hyperscalers.
For online retailers and their customers, this means: all data and shop processes remain securely in Germany, protected by the strict requirements of the General Data Protection Regulation. This enables companies to provide their customers with the highest level of trust and digital security.
Data Sovereignty as a Strategic Necessity
In the face of regulatory hurdles and geopolitical instability, data sovereignty is becoming the focus of entrepreneurial activity. “Our partnership offers a reliable and secure alternative to the solutions offered by international hyperscalers and software providers,” explains empiriecom Managing Director Ralf Männlein. “This addresses the growing demand for sovereign data security, performance, and legal compliance in digital commerce.”
“Digital independence is no longer an optional feature but a strategic necessity,” emphasises Bernie Wagner, CEO of STACKIT and divisional board member at Schwarz Digits. The ‘German Digital Commerce Operation Model’ brings the expertise of three market leaders together into a seamless overall solution.
“With the ‘German Digital Commerce Operation Model’, STACKIT, empiriecom, and adesso deliver a turnkey platform and 24/7 support from Germany to retailers,” summarises Oliver Schobert, Executive Director Core Business & Enterprise Sales at adesso SE. “Together we provide e-commerce companies with the foundation for growth in a secure, scalable, and legally compliant environment, making them resilient for the challenges ahead.”
Unique End-to-End Ecosystem
All three partners deliver maximum data sovereignty, relying exclusively on products developed, hosted, and operated in Germany. This is a feature rarely matched by other providers. Their offering combines the software solutions of each technology company, seamlessly integrated into a single cohesive package.
STACKIT Infrastructure: as part of Schwarz Digits, STACKIT guarantees that all data and applications are hosted exclusively in Germany and Austria and processed in accordance with strict European and German data protection standards. A strict zero-access security policy ensures that data sovereignty remains with the customer at all times.
Empiriecom Commerce Suite: the platform is built on a modern, modular architecture, making it adaptable to a wide range of business models, channels, and markets. This flexibility allows companies to effectively manage even complex multi-shop and omnichannel structures. The solution is already trusted by businesses with annual revenues exceeding 400 million euros.
adesso Implementation: with extensive industry experience and a proven record in complex e-commerce projects, the team ensures that every solution is precisely tailored to each client’s business model. Long-term, stable, and secure operation is always the top priority.
About STACKIT
STACKIT is the cloud provider of Schwarz Group. External partners and customers in Europe can also rely on the cloud services that Schwarz Group companies have been benefiting from for years for their digital transformation. On the way to becoming the first European hyperscaler, STACKIT offers digital sovereignty that goes far beyond the market standard and individual approaches to the implementation and operation of cloud solutions. STACKIT currently operates four data centers – one of which is in Austria – and is building a fifth in Lübbenau. Based in Neckarsulm, Germany, the team is paving the way for an independent Europe – digital, leading. As part of Schwarz Digits, STACKIT GmbH & Co. KG is part of the IT and digital division of Schwarz Group.
About empiriecom
empiriecom, better e-commerce, develops and operates one of the largest e-commerce platforms in europe. With over 100 e-commerce experts in agile teams, empiriecom implements technologically sophisticated and innovative solutions and has comprehensive service expertise. empiriecom is part of the BAUR-Gruppe and a member of the Otto Group – a global retail and service group with around 41,000 employees and a revenue of 16.2 billion euros in the 2022/2023 financial year. The BAUR Group's B2B service providers also include BAUR Studios for photography and videography, and BAUR Retail Media for onsite and offsite promotion.
About adesso
adesso is one of the leading IT service providers in the German-speaking area and focuses its consulting and software development activities on the core business processes of companies and public authorities. adesso’s strategy is based on three pillars: the comprehensive industry-specific know-how of its staff, extensive expertise in technology that is independent of manufacturers and the application of reliable methods in software implementation projects. adesso delivers the right IT solutions to increase the ability of companies and organisations to compete in the core sectors of insurance/reinsurance, banking and financial services, healthcare and life sciences, energy supply, public administration, automotive and manufacturing industry, trade, transport, media, entertainment, lottery and sports.
adesso was founded in Dortmund in 1997 and currently employs more than 11,100 people in the adesso Group (converted to full-time equivalents/FTE), which corresponds to more than 11,800 employees in terms of headcount. adesso’s shares are listed on the Prime Standard/SDAX. Customers in Germany include Commerzbank, BayernLB, Munich Re, Provinzial, Bitmarck, amedes, RWE, E.ON, Mercedes-Benz, thyssenkrupp, Bosch, Otto, Markant, Borussia Dortmund, the Deutsche Fußball Liga, the Westdeutsche Lotterie, the Deutsche Bundesbank, the Procurement Office of the Federal Ministry of the Interior and the Federal Ministry of Finance. In addition, there are numerous international customers, including Swisscom, AXA Switzerland, Alpitour, the Austrian Football Bundesliga and Swiss Federal Railways.
Press contacts
Pressestelle Schwarz Digits
T +49 7132 30-490490
presse-digits@mail.schwarz
empiriecom GmbH & Co. KG
Stefan Gagel · Pressesprecher
T +49 175 5734288
stefan.gagel@baur-gruppe.com
adesso SE
Nils Roos · Senior PR-Manager
T +49 170 4406 148
nils.roos@adesso.de
