Zalando Connected Retail is ending: dates, fees and how to move to the Partner Program.

What Zalando announced

German trade title Schuhkurier broke the news in April 2026, and Zalando then confirmed it to FashionUnited: the group is consolidating its partnership models and discontinuing Connected Retail. Partners connected through Connected Retail are invited to switch to the marketplace model, the Partner Program, which runs on the zDirect portal.

Zalando is clear that it is not walking away from physical retail. Its statement to FashionUnited: "We are not saying goodbye to brick and mortar stores; we are simply updating the technology they use to connect with us." Partners can keep fulfilling orders directly from their stores. What changes is the tooling, the fees and, according to the trade press, the level of requirements.

The dates to know

What changes on fees

Zalando does not publish a Partner Program fee list: the terms are in the contract. What has been communicated publicly about the switch is this:

• Standard marketplace fees for every partner from September 2026, former Connected Retail partners included.
• A two-percentage-point reduction for retailers until the end of 2027.
• One extra point off for six months for partners who switch early.

My advice to every store is to redo the per-SKU margin maths at the full fee, not the discounted one. The discount ends at the end of 2027: if a product only works thanks to the two points, it should come out of the Zalando assortment or be repriced now, not in a year.

What changes for a store

Zalando's public pages describe the two models like this. With Connected Retail you export your inventory data, pack and ship orders from the store, receive orders in the Connected Retail tools, and Zalando processes payments. With the Partner Program you control prices, assortment and stock depth, work from the zDirect portal (analytics, benchmarking, platform tooling), choose your own logistics, Zalando's Logistics Services or a mix of both, and can use Zalando's Marketing Services. The Partner Program covers 25 European markets.

In practice, stores coming from Connected Retail should expect a few differences:

• A different portal and a different integration. Orders, stock and catalogue run through zDirect and, for real catalogues, an integrator or the API. The Connected Retail tools go away.
• Partner Program standards. Approved carriers per country, free shipping and returns, 30-day returns, documents in the parcel, and the operational KPIs of the Customer Experience Model. I listed them in the guide on how to sell on Zalando.
• Stricter requirements. The trade press reports higher service costs, stricter requirements and less flexibility. Software vendors running migrations mention tighter KPIs on shipping, returns and stock synchronisation.
• Stock shared with the till. An item sold in store and still live on Zalando becomes a cancelled order. In the Partner Program cancellations count against your KPIs, so stock synchronisation becomes the first problem to solve.

How to prepare the move, step by step

Mistakes to avoid

• Waiting until 2027. Fees already changed in September 2026, and the extra discount is tied to switching early.
• Treating the discount as permanent. The two points end at the end of 2027.
• Migrating the whole catalogue. At the full fee, some products no longer add up.
• Underestimating stock sync. With stock shared between the till and online, every minute of delay becomes a cancellation.

Frequently asked questions

Is Zalando Connected Retail really ending?

Yes. Zalando confirmed it to FashionUnited in April 2026: the Connected Retail technology is discontinued by 30 June 2027 and partners are invited to move to the Partner Program.

Can I keep shipping from my store?

Yes. According to Zalando, partners can keep fulfilling orders directly from their stores. In the Partner Program, though, its standards apply: approved carriers, free shipping and returns, operational KPIs.

How much does the Partner Program cost for a former Connected Retail partner?

From September 2026 you pay the standard marketplace fees, with two points off until the end of 2027 and one more point for six months if you switch early. The exact percentages are in the contract: Zalando does not publish a fee list.

I missed the 15 May 2026 deadline: can I still sell on Zalando?

The Partner Program is invitation-only: Zalando states that it does not accept direct applications. The only route is a conversation with a Zalando Sales Manager, ideally with markets, logistics, integration and catalogue already worked out.

What happens to my in-store stock?

It stays yours and you can keep selling it from there. The difference is that stock has to be synced with zDirect through an integrator or the API, and availability errors count towards the Partner Program KPIs.

Sources

• FashionUnited: Zalando consolidates partnership models, Connected Retail to be discontinued (April 2026)
• RetailDetail: Zalando to end its Connected Retail program (27/04/2026)
• Zalando Partner: partnership models (Wholesale, Partner Program, Connected Retail)
• Zalando Partner University: Your guide to moving from Connected Retail to Partner Program (login required)