Otto Market, a leading e-commerce platform in Germany, offers a significant opportunity for businesses to expand their reach and connect with millions of customers. If you’re looking to sell your products on this prominent marketplace, understanding the application process, requirements, and tools available is key.
The Typical Application Process: Step-by-Step
Becoming a seller on Otto Market involves a structured application and verification process designed to ensure quality and fairness for both sellers and customers. Here’s a typical step-by-step breakdown:
- Initial Application Form: Begin by filling out the online registration form on the Otto Market seller portal. This is where you provide initial details about your company. Otto reviews each application individually to assess basic requirements and suitability.
- Access to OTTO Partner Connect (OPC): If your initial application meets Otto’s criteria, you will receive an email with login credentials for OTTO Partner Connect (OPC), their dedicated partner portal.
- Two-Factor Authentication Setup: Upon your first login to OPC, you will be required to set up two-factor authentication (2FA) for enhanced security. This usually involves installing an authenticator app (like Google Authenticator or FreeOTP Authenticator) on your smartphone or tablet and scanning a QR code to link it.
- Complete Company Profile: Within OPC, you’ll need to provide more detailed information about your company. This includes your complete company name (including legal form), address, and other legal-form-specific details. This information is used to generate your contract offer.
- Seller Information: Provide contact information for internal communication regarding customer inquiries and invoices. You’ll also need to provide details for your customer-facing imprint, including an email address and phone number. Information on legal requirements, such as packaging system participation and old appliance returns, is also required.
- Accept Terms of Use and Contracts: The platform’s terms of use, which constitute your contract with Otto, will be made available directly in the partner portal for your review and acceptance.
- Legitimation Check (KYC): This crucial step, handled by Otto Payments, involves a thorough Know Your Customer (KYC) verification. You will need to sign a payment service framework contract and provide detailed legitimation information, including:
- Company details
- Collection account details (must be within the Single Euro Payments Area – SEPA)
- Applicant details (the applicant must also be an authorized representative for the company)
- Details of legally represented persons
- Details of beneficial owners with direct or indirect ownership of more than 25% of the company’s shares.
- “Let’s Go!”: Once the connection to Otto Payments and the legitimation check are successfully completed, you will gain full access to the partner portal and can begin setting up your product listings.
Application Review and KYC Verification Timeframe
The legitimation check, a key part of the application process, can take up to fifteen working days. You can monitor the status of this check directly within the OTTO Partner Connect portal. The entire process duration can vary depending on how quickly you provide the required information and how complex your company’s structure is for the KYC checks.
Required Documents for Application and Legitimation Check
The documents and information required primarily revolve around verifying your company’s legal status, financial standing, and the identity of key individuals. While specific document requests may vary, generally you will need:
- Proof of German legal entity/company: Your company must have a German legal form (e.g., AG, Einzelunternehmen, GbR, GmbH, KG, SE, UG, etc., excluding small businesses under §19 UStG) and a registered office in Germany.
- German VAT identification number: Your company must possess its own German VAT ID.
- Company registration documents: To verify company identification and legal representatives.
- Bank account details: For your collection account, located within the SEPA.
- Identification documents: For the applicant, legally represented persons, and beneficial owners (e.g., passport, national ID). This may involve a video identification process.
- Information on legal compliance: Such as obligations regarding the take-back of old electrical and electronic equipment (ElektroG) and participation in a packaging scheme (VerpackG) with registration at the ZSVR.
- FSC® sustainability seal information (if applicable for relevant products).
What is OTTO Partner Connect and How Do I Gain Access?
OTTO Partner Connect (OPC) is the central hub and partner portal for external sellers on Otto Market. It’s your control center for managing all aspects of your marketplace business.
You gain access to OPC after successfully completing the initial registration process and once Otto has reviewed and approved your preliminary application. You will receive an email with your login details.
Within OPC, you can:
- Manage Products: Create new product listings, maintain inventory, and update product information.
- Overview of Orders: Track order status, shipped products, and returns.
- Financials: View your payment history, including pending and past payouts.
- Analytics: Access sales figures and other key performance indicators to optimize your business.
- Services: Book additional services and promotional activities.
- Customer Requests: View and respond to inquiries from your customers.
- News and Helpdesk: Stay informed with the latest Otto Market news and access a comprehensive helpdesk with articles and video tutorials.
Is Two-Factor Authentication Required for the Partner Portal?
Yes, two-factor authentication (2FA) is a mandatory security measure for accessing OTTO Partner Connect. Every time you log in, after entering your username and password, you will be required to authenticate yourself with a second factor.
This is typically set up using an authenticator app (such as Google Authenticator or FreeOTP Authenticator), where you scan a QR code to link your account and then generate a six-digit security code for each login. This significantly enhances the security of your account and the sensitive data accessible within the portal. You also receive recovery codes during setup to regain access if you lose your authentication device.
By understanding and diligently following these steps, businesses can navigate the application process to become a successful seller on Otto Market, tapping into its vast customer base and robust platform.