Zalando and Shopify Expand E-Commerce Purchasing Processes with AI Agent Technologies

European e-commerce company Zalando and Canada-based Shopify have announced new services that enable artificial intelligence agents (AI Agents) to be used for product searches, comparisons, and purchases. While Zalando aims to allow users to shop from different stores within its app starting in 2027, Shopify is opening its Shop Pay payment system to third-party AI platforms, enabling shopping transactions to be completed through these systems.

The developments announced by the companies in early November 2026 indicate that AI-powered shopping applications are expanding into the payment and order processing stages. AI Agent technologies encompass software systems capable of researching products, comparing options, and carrying out authorized transactions based on user preferences. The integration of these technologies into e-commerce aims to reduce the need for consumers to switch between different online stores when purchasing products.

Zalando to Enable Shopping from Other Stores Through AI Agents

Germany-based Zalando announced on November 3, 2026, that its Zalando Extended service would make products not sold on its own platform accessible from other online stores. According to the company's plan, customers will be able to purchase products from different retailers without leaving the Zalando app. An AI Agent will complete the purchase on behalf of the user.

The service's first pilot partner is Westwing, a home and living products retailer. The system will initially focus on product categories such as home furniture, with AI-powered in-app payment transactions scheduled to begin in 2027.

According to Zalando, its existing shopping assistant reached more than 22 million unique users during the year. The company's active customer base increased by 2.9% year over year to 63.2 million in the third quarter.

Shopify Opens Shop Pay to AI Agent Platforms

Shopify has expanded its technology by integrating its Shop Pay payment infrastructure with AI agents, allowing users to complete shopping transactions through these platforms. According to Shopify, AI platforms such as Meta's Muse, Claude Duet, and Instinct support payment transactions through Shop Pay. Some integrations also enable purchases of products from brands that do not use Shopify's infrastructure.

The company states that more than 400 million people worldwide use Shop Pay. AI Agent integrations aim to ensure that payment card information is not shared with AI agents and that purchase authorization remains under the user's control. Shopify also provides developers with the ability to integrate product searches, shopping cart creation, and payment transactions into AI applications through its Shop MCP infrastructure.

Shopify's Third-Quarter Revenue Increased by 32%

In its third-quarter 2026 results announced on November 3, Shopify reported that its revenue increased by 32% year over year to $3.74 billion. The company's net profit rose to $462 million from $264 million in the same period last year. Gross merchandise volume (GMV) processed through the platform reached approximately $119.1 billion. The free cash flow margin stood at 22%.

During the same period, Zalando increased its revenue by 5.1% to approximately €3.17 billion, while its gross merchandise volume rose by 7.5% to €4.54 billion. However, the company's gross profit margin declined by 0.9 percentage points to 38.7% due to discounts. Zalando Chief Financial Officer Anna Dimitrova stated that the pressure on margins was temporary.