Jena, 22.04.2026. The Jena-based software company Intershop succeeded in returning to profitability in the first quarter of 2026. A consistent cost-reduction program helped the e-commerce pioneer achieve a balanced result, even though revenue declined compared to the same period last year.
- Company: Intershop Communications AG (Jena)
- Q1 2026 Result: Balanced after previous losses
- Q1 2026 Revenue: 7.9 million euros (Previous year: 9.1 million euros)
- Workforce: Decrease of 40 to approx. 220 employees worldwide
- Outlook: Balanced full year 2026 expected with a slight decline in revenue
Job Cuts and Budget Reductions
CFO Petra Stappenbeck used clear words during the presentation of the current financial figures: A “tough cost-reduction program” was necessary to align expenses with the decreased revenues. The cuts affected essential areas such as sales as well as research and development.
The measures are particularly noticeable in terms of personnel: Within one year, the workforce shrank by 40 positions through layoffs and the decision not to fill vacancies. Currently, Intershop Communications AG employs around 220 people worldwide. The reduction did not only take place at the headquarters in Germany but also affected locations in the USA and Canada.
Customers Hesitant with New Investments
Despite the break-even result, the market environment remains challenging. CEO Markus Dränert explained the expected revenue decline to 7.9 million euros (compared to 9.1 million euros in the first quarter of the previous year) with a noticeable restraint on the customer side. “The new customer business remains difficult,” said Dränert. Due to general economic uncertainties, many companies are currently cutting their investment budgets and postponing decisions.
However, the core business offers a silver lining: Revenue from rental and cloud software (Software as a Service) rose against the general trend by three percent to 5.3 million euros. Order intake in this specific area also recorded an increase of eight percent compared to the same period last year.
Offensive with Artificial Intelligence
To provide new momentum in the competitive software market, Intershop plans to introduce new functions in May. A particular focus is on the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI). The new applications are intended to help e-commerce customers efficiently automate certain routine processes in the future – such as the creation of item descriptions in large product databases.
Intershop Communications AG is one of the most well-known East German success stories of the post-reunification era. Founded in the 1990s in Jena, the company was among the international pioneers that made internet commerce possible on a large scale through early e-commerce platforms. During the dot-com boom at the turn of the millennium, Intershop temporarily became one of the most valuable companies on the then-New Market of the Deutsche Börse. Even after strong economic fluctuations and a fundamental change in the business model towards cloud software, the company has always remained an important building block for Jena’s reputation as a leading digital and technology location in Thüringen.
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Intershop achieves balanced result – “Tough” austerity program
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