Bundesverband E-Commerce und Versandhandel Deutschland e.V. (bevh)

What Bundesverband E-Commerce und Versandhandel Deutschland e.V. (bevh) does

Bundesverband E-Commerce und Versandhandel Deutschland e.V. (bevh) is the principal German trade association for e-commerce and mail-order companies, originally founded in 1947 as the Verband der Postversandgeschäfte and headquartered in Berlin. It serves over 500 member companies spanning online retailers, multichannel merchants, manufacturers with direct-to-consumer operations, online marketplaces, traditional mail-order firms, and industry service providers. As an eingetragener Verein (e.V.) under German law, it operates as a member-driven, non-profit organization governed by its membership and led by President Gero Furchheim and Managing Director (Hauptgeschäftsführerin) Alien Mulyk.

The association's core offering is a portfolio of membership services rather than a commercial product platform. Its principal asset is the 'Interaktiver Handel in Deutschland' consumer study, a weekly telephone and online survey of approximately 40,000 private individuals aged 14+ in Germany that has been running since 2014, supplemented by interactive market data dashboards and a suite of focused studies (GenZ, Re-Commerce, Retourenkompendium, Operations & Fulfillment Benchmark, Impact of E-Commerce, OeNO CO2-Bilanz, E-Commerce-Atlas). Members also receive legal guidance on German and EU regulation, access to specialist working groups (Legal, Data Protection, Logistics, Product Data), events, webinars, policy advocacy, and the 'Kaufleute im E-Commerce' vocational training program. Underlying infrastructure runs on a Typo3 CMS website with a login-protected member portal, with Microsoft Teams used for virtual working groups, Zoom for webinars, Inxmail for newsletter distribution, and Google Analytics for website analytics.

Revenue is generated primarily through annual membership dues calculated via a contribution calculator based on company revenue and size, with supporting/fördermitglied, Preferred Business Partner, and European Trustmark tiers, alongside paid event registration. GTM is sales-led via the website's online intake dialog and direct outreach. The association holds a formal seat in the German Lobby Register (R000747) and EU Transparency Register (484035621621035-95) and is the German national member of Ecommerce Europe, providing members with privileged access to EU policy formation. It also operates a specialized subsidiary, AZD Alternative Zustelldienste GmbH, focused on alternative delivery services.

Name

Bundesverband E-Commerce und Versandhandel Deutschland e.V. (bevh)

Legal name

Bundesverband E-Commerce und Versandhandel Deutschland e.V.

Website

https://bevh.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1947

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The bevh is the German trade association for e-commerce and mail-order companies, representing 500+ member firms with policy advocacy, legal guidance, and proprietary weekly consumer market data.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership dues: The primary revenue stream consists of membership fees paid by online retailers, multichannel merchants, manufacturers with D2C operations, online marketplaces, traditional mail-order companies, and industry service providers (as associate members). Membership fees are calculated using a contribution calculator based on company size and revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

Bundesverband E-Commerce und Versandhandel Deutschland e.V. (bevh) is a German trade association that provides membership-based services to over 500 e-commerce, multichannel retail, D2C manufacturing, online marketplace, and mail-order companies. Its core offerings include industry representation before German and EU legislative bodies, weekly consumer market data via the 'Interaktiver Handel in Deutschland' study, legal guidance, specialized working groups, events, vocational training support, and policy position papers.

Product overview

Bundesverband E-Commerce und Versandhandel Deutschland e.V. (bevh) is a German trade association for e-commerce and mail-order companies, not a product company. The organization provides a portfolio of membership services including market research publications (such as the 'Interaktiver Handel in Deutschland' study, 'GenZ-Studie', 'E-Commerce-Atlas', 'Retourenkompendium', and 'Impact of E-Commerce' analysis), interactive market data dashboards, legal assistance tools for online retailers, professional working groups, events/conferences, webinars, and policy advocacy publications. These services support members in achieving best-in-class e-commerce operations, understanding regulatory requirements, and staying informed on market trends. The offering is structured as membership-based services rather than a commercial product platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AZD Alternative Zustelldienste GmbH: A subsidiary entity focused on alternative delivery services, referenced as a specialized division of the association.

Products and services

• Studie: Interaktiver Handel in Deutschland Largest consumer study on German e-commerce, conducted weekly since 2014, surveying approximately 40,000 individuals (aged 14+) about their online purchasing behavior. Provides authoritative market data on online and distance-selling spend in Germany for members and stakeholders.
• Interaktive Marktdaten (Interactive Market Data) Interactive dashboards providing a detailed overview of sales and trends in German online retail, sourced from the largest consumer study on German e-commerce. Enables users to explore sales data across categories.
• Zahl der Woche (Number of the Week)

Quantifiable outcome

• 40,000 private individuals surveyed weekly since 2014 for Germany's largest e-commerce consumer study
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Bundesverband Großhandel, Außenhandel, Dienstleistungen (BGA)minorOthersbevh maintains a partnership with BGA as part of its network of cooperating trade associations, exchanging information on policy positions and joint advocacy on matters of mutual interest in German trade policy.
• Bundesverband Direktvertrieb Deutschland (BVDVA)minorOthersCooperative partnership with the German Direct Selling Association, sharing policy intelligence and joint positions on consumer protection and distance-selling regulations.
• Bundesverband Druck Medien (BV DM)minorOthersPartnership with the German Printing and Media Industries Association, reflecting shared interests in packaging, sustainability, and cross-media commerce.
• Bundesverband Digitale Wirtschaft (BVDW)minorOthersCooperation with BVDW on digital economy topics, particularly related to online marketing, digital advertising, and data-driven commerce.
• Charta der VielfaltminorOthersbevh participates in the 'Charta der Vielfalt' (Charter of Diversity) initiative, committing to diversity and inclusion in the workplace and in the broader commerce sector.
• medianetminorOthersPartnership with medianet, the Brandenburg-based digital industry association, for networking and exchange on digital commerce topics in the Berlin-Brandenburg region.
• FIRA - Federation International Retail AssociationsminorOthersbevh is connected to FIRA, the International Federation of Retail Associations, through which it participates in international retail policy exchanges and benchmarking.
• Hamburg@work / Digital Cluster HamburgminorOthersPartnership with the Hamburg digital industry cluster for regional networking, joint events, and knowledge exchange on digital commerce.
• Initiative Online Print (IOP)minorOthersPartnership with the Initiative Online Print, supporting the intersection of online and print media in commerce, particularly relevant for catalog-based mail-order companies.
• Nachhaltige Textilien (Textilbündnis)minorOthersCooperation with the German Textiles Partnership (Initiative for Sustainable Textiles) on sustainability topics relevant to online fashion retailers.
• Total E-QualityminorOthersPartnership with Total E-Quality, promoting gender equality and diversity management in commerce organizations.
• Verein für Digital Commerce (VIR)minorOthersPartnership with VIR, the Austrian Digital Commerce Association, facilitating cross-border exchange between German and Austrian e-commerce companies.
• Ecommerce EuropecoreStrategic or Co-development Partnerbevh is the German national member of Ecommerce Europe, the pan-European e-commerce federation. This is a flagship partnership providing German members with European policy representation, cross-border market data, and the European Trustmark certification program.
• IHK BerlinminorOthersCooperation with IHK Berlin on vocational training matters, specifically related to the 'Kaufleute im E-Commerce' apprenticeship program.
• eye-ableminorOtherseye-able is identified as a Preferred Business Partner of bevh, offering accessibility plug-ins and tools to help online shops meet BFSG/Barrierefreiheitsstärkungsgesetz requirements.
• TÜV SÜDminorOthersTÜV SÜD is listed as a Preferred Business Partner offering accessibility certification services for online shops under the EN 301 549 standard, helping companies comply with the Barrierefreiheitsstärkungsgesetz.
• National Retail Federation (via FIRA)minorOthersThrough its FIRA membership, bevh maintains a connection to the international retail community including the U.S. National Retail Federation.
• CiveyminorOthersCivey conducted a representative survey of 2,306 frequent online shoppers on behalf of bevh (June 2025) regarding 'Buy now, pay later' payment methods and invoice purchasing habits.

Scale indicators3 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Dansk Erhverv: Danish Chamber of Commerce representing retail, wholesale, and service companies. Comparable in providing advocacy, research, and member services to commercial enterprises in a Nordic market.
• Svensk Handel: Swedish trade association for commerce and retail. Comparable as a national member-based industry body providing advocacy and market data, but focused on the broader retail sector in a different geography.
• Verein für Digital Commerce (VIR): Austrian digital commerce association that is already a bevh partner. Highly comparable in mandate (digital commerce advocacy in a DACH market) but operates at smaller national scale in Austria.

Others

• Independent Retail Europe: European federation representing independent retailers. Comparable as a federated retail trade body engaging in EU policy, but focused on small independent retailers rather than digital commerce.

Direct peers

• National Retail Federation (NRF): Largest U.S. retail trade association. Comparable as a member-driven industry body providing advocacy, research, and events, but operates at national scale in a much larger retail market.
• Ecommerce Europe: Pan-European e-commerce federation of which bevh is the German national member. Most directly comparable as a trade association focused on e-commerce policy, market data, and the European Trustmark certification.
• Bundesverband Digitale Wirtschaft (BVDW): German digital economy trade association. Comparable as a domestic member-based body focused on digital business topics, though its scope is broader (marketing, advertising, digital content) than bevh's e-commerce focus.
• Bundesverband Großhandel, Außenhandel, Dienstleistungen (BGA): German wholesale, foreign trade, and services association. Comparable as a member-driven German trade association engaging in policy advocacy, though focused upstream of bevh's e-commerce retail focus.
• EuroCommerce: European federation representing the retail and wholesale sector. Comparable in representing the broader commerce value chain at EU level, though covering both offline and online retail rather than specializing in e-commerce.
• Bundesverband Direktvertrieb Deutschland (BDVDA): German direct selling trade association. Comparable in representing distance-selling businesses and engaging in German consumer protection policy, though focused on person-to-person selling rather than digital channels.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/bevh_org
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@bevh
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bundesverband-des-deutschen-versandhandels

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Bundesverband E-Commerce und Versandhandel Deutschland e.V. (bevh)