All across Europe, the online retail sector is quickly becoming a major part of the industry, and much of that growth is occurring in Germany. A recent study by the Centre for Retail Research found that Germany saw the most growth in online sales in 2013. The ecommerce sector rose 39.2 percent, and the researchers predicted it would increase another 22 percent in 2014.

This prediction was strengthened by the latest retail sales forecast from GfK, a global market research firm. GfK researchers found that online sales in Germany would increase 25 percent in 2014, but Reuters reported that even with this growth, the online retail sector would only account for about one-quarter of total sales in Germany this year. 

"The forecasted retail turnover reflects changing consumer behavior," Simone Baecker-Neuchl told Reuters. "The online boom also offers opportunities to stationary retail."

Such opportunities may include omnichannel strategies that employ ecommerce software to enhance the shopping experience across all platforms. Providing a better point of sale experience, whether by offering more efficient service with modern POS software, accepting mobile payments like LevelUp, or providing loyalty programs for frequent customers, can strengthen the shopping experience for customers.