Agentic commerce is no longer a distant vision; it is becoming reality. The recent announcement of the Instant Checkout in ChatGPT confirms what we at Shopware, together with PayPal and our partners, have been preparing for: a future where AI agents discover, compare, and purchase products on behalf of customers.
Analysts expect that by 2030, nearly a third of all ecommerce transactions will be carried out by AI agents. For merchants, this means new channels, new opportunities, and new ways to grow. Shopware’s mission is to make sure these innovations unfold on open standards, with merchants always retaining control over their data and processes.
From vision to standard: The Agentic Commerce Protocol
When we co-founded the Agentic Commerce Alliance in spring 2025, our goal was clear: lay the foundations of an open, interoperable, and merchant-first ecosystem for agentic commerce.
That’s why we welcome OpenAI’s decision to open source the Agentic Commerce Protocol (ACP), which enables Instant Checkout. This step aligns directly with the roadmap we’ve been pursuing: shared standards, interoperable agents, and scalable discovery.
As ACP evolves, we are preparing our platform and partnerships so that Shopware merchants can connect to these new opportunities as soon as they are ready.
Partnering with PayPal: The Commerce Agent Platform
Our strategy is built not just on standards but also on trusted partnerships. At this year’s Shopware Community Day, Ryan Prichard (Vice President SMB & Financial Services, PayPal) announced that Shopware will be one of the first ecommerce platforms in Europe to join the new PayPal Commerce Agent Platform.
With PayPal trusted by more than 400 million users worldwide, this milestone means Shopware merchants will soon be able to make selected products discoverable and purchasable across AI-driven channels and large language models, such as Perplexity. The rollout begins this fall.
This collaboration with PayPal is not an add-on. It’s at the heart of our Agentic Commerce strategy, ensuring merchants stay competitive in an AI-driven world.
The Agentic Commerce Alliance: Building the open future
Agentic commerce is only at the beginning. To ensure it grows in a way that is open, fair, and empowering for merchants of all sizes, Shopware co-founded the Agentic Commerce Alliance earlier this year.
The Alliance brings together AI-first companies, research institutions, and merchants to establish the foundations of open agentic commerce: interoperable agents, merchant-first data sovereignty, and shared standards.
Our first joint initiatives focus on trust and reputation systems, scoped payments and authentication, and interoperable data formats. Aligning early ensures this ecosystem benefits merchants, not just platforms.
Shopware merchants are ready
Shopware’s foundation has always been openness: API-first technology, strong partnerships, and a community that thrives on collaboration. That’s exactly what makes us ready for the next chapter of commerce.
Together with PayPal and the members of the Agentic Commerce Alliance, we are shaping an agentic commerce ecosystem that stays open, fair, and human-centered – one where AI doesn’t replace merchants but amplifies their reach and creativity.
Because the future of commerce isn’t about agents working alone. It’s about agents and merchants working better, together.
