Logo von nextlevels
Request a project

Shop, app, marketing or AI – what first? The Digital Stack Builder

Pick your goals, answer four short questions and get your digital plan in three phases – including the legal duties that probably apply to you.

  • Free
  • No sign-up
  • Fixed calculation rules, no AI

Question 1 / 5

What do you want to achieve?

Pick up to six goals in order of importance. The number shows the priority.

A building block is a self-contained project, such as “Replace your shop platform”, “Connect your systems” or “Process documents automatically”. Each block lands in a phase – now, the next three months or later – with a reason and a link to the matching service. No sign-up needed for the plan; the rough budget comes by email.

Your progress0 of 5

Three phases, clear building blocks

Every building block is a self-contained project and lands in one phase – with the reason and a link to the service.

  • Now

    Start whenever you like.

  • Next 3 months

    Follows the first steps.

  • Later

    Worth it once the basics are in place.

Example: a wholesaler's plan

This is what a result looks like. The answers run through the same rules as your own.

Build your own plan
The answers

A wholesaler with 80 employees sells to business customers on Shopware 5; stock and invoices run in the ERP. Top goal: less manual work between shop, ERP and inbox.

Goals
Automate processes
Business model
Trade or manufacturing for businesses
Size
50–249 employees
Online shop
Shopware 5
Systems
ERP
Scope
One project

Now

Start whenever you like.

  • Shop

    Replace your shop platform

    Why: Shopware 5 has had no official security updates since the end of July 2024, so moving to Shopware 6 comes before everything else.

  • AI

    AI workflows

    Why: Fastest lever for “Automate processes” – you can start without a big project.

Next 3 months

Follows the first steps.

  • Software

    Connect your systems

    Why: Builds on “Replace your shop platform” and only pays off after it.

  • AI

    Process documents automatically

    Why: Complements the first blocks once they show results.

Later

Worth it once the basics are in place.

  • Software

    Custom software

    Why: Fits your goals but has less leverage than the blocks before it – tackle it later.

  • Marketing

    CRM and marketing automation

    Why: Fits your goals but has less leverage than the blocks before it – tackle it later.

Duties below this plan: E-invoicing (Section 14 UStG) · Cookies and tracking (Section 25 TDDDG) · AI literacy (Article 4 AI Act)

Example: a wholesaler's plan

These duties apply to many businesses

Regardless of your goals, the builder checks seven legal topics and shows the ones that fit your business model, size and blocks below your plan. You'll find more on each duty under “Meet compliance requirements”.

DutyApplies toSinceWhat to doSource
Accessibility (BFSG)Online shops and digital services through which consumers conclude contracts. Micro-enterprises providing services are exempt.28 June 2025Make the shop and website accessible and explain in your T&Cs or another clearly visible place how the service meets the requirements.German Accessibility Strengthening Act (BFSG)
Withdrawal button (Section 356a BGB)Online contracts with consumers that carry a right of withdrawal.19 June 2026Offer a clearly visible “withdraw from contract” button at all times, with a confirmation step and an acknowledgement of receipt, e.g. by email.Section 356a BGB
Product safety (GPSR)Online shops selling products to consumers.13 December 2024Show the manufacturer with postal and email address, product identification, and warnings and safety information in the listing; for manufacturers outside the EU also the responsible person in the EU.Art. 19 Regulation (EU) 2023/988
E-invoicing (Section 14 UStG)Businesses in Germany invoicing other domestic businesses.1 January 2025 (receiving)Receive and process e-invoices (XRechnung, ZUGFeRD). Issue them from 2027 if your previous-year turnover exceeded €800,000, otherwise from 2028; businesses under the small business VAT scheme are exempt.Sections 14 and 27(38) UStG; Sections 33, 34, 34a UStDV
Cookies and tracking (Section 25 TDDDG)Websites and apps with cookies, tracking or ad pixels.1 December 2021Get consent before non-essential cookies, tracking tools and pixels, usually via a consent banner.Section 25 TDDDG
AI literacy (Article 4 AI Act)Businesses that provide or use AI systems.2 February 2025, amended in July 2026Support the development of AI literacy in your team, e.g. with training and internal guidelines.Regulation (EU) 2024/1689, as amended by Regulation (EU) 2026/1744
AI transparency (Article 50 AI Act)Chatbots, voicebots and other AI systems that interact directly with people.2 August 2026Make it clear that people are talking to an AI, unless that is obvious.Art. 50 Regulation (EU) 2024/1689

Not legal advice. As of 26 September 2026.

Test accessibility now: to the BFSG check

Five areas, one plan

The builder combines blocks from all five service areas. Here you'll find each area in detail.

  • E-Commerce

    Shopware shops, B2B portals, migrations and conversion.

    Go to the area

  • App Development

    iOS and Android apps with React Native, from concept to operations.

    Go to the area

  • Enterprise Software

    Custom software, SaaS, integrations and replacing legacy systems.

    Go to the area

  • Digital Marketing

    SEO and GEO, performance marketing, tracking and CRM.

    Go to the area

  • AI Consulting

    AI workflows, document processing, assistants and AI strategy.

    Go to the area

How your plan is built

No black box: the builder follows fixed rules, and the same answers always produce the same plan.

Weight the goals
Your first goal counts three times, the second twice, all others once. Every block has a fixed weight per goal.
Pick the blocks
Add-ons for business model, size and existing systems come on top. Only blocks with enough points count, at most two per area. Three rules add blocks regardless: the move off Shopware 5, a replacement block for the goal “Replace legacy systems”, and tracking as soon as conversion, SEO or ads are in the plan. That gives three to six blocks.
Set the order
If “Meet compliance requirements” is your first or second goal, the matching blocks move to the front, as does a necessary platform replacement. The move off Shopware 5 always lands in “Now”. Whatever builds on them follows. Small levers start right away, big projects fit your scope.

Which tool fits?

The builder is for managing directors and IT leads in mid-sized companies who need a sequence, not just a single project. Other questions have better-suited tools.

  • Digital Stack Builder

    You don't know where to start yet and want to put shop, software, marketing and AI in a sensible order.

    You are here

  • Project Calculator

    You already know what you want to build – shop, app or software – and need a first estimate of cost and duration.

    Estimate costs

  • Marketing Mix Finder

    You want more leads or sales through marketing and are looking for the channels to start with.

    Find my mix

FAQ about the Digital Stack Builder

Your question isn't here? Ask us directly

What is the Digital Stack Builder?
A free planning tool. You pick up to six goals and answer four short questions on business model, size, systems and time frame. The result is a plan of three to six building blocks, split into now, the next three months and later, each with a short reason.
How do I create a digital strategy?
Start with two or three measurable goals, such as more shop revenue or less manual work between systems. Then sort the blocks you need into phases by dependency and effort, and check which duties such as the BFSG or e-invoicing you have to meet anyway. That is exactly what the Digital Stack Builder does in five questions.
How is the recommendation made?
By fixed rules described on this page – without AI. Every block has a weight per goal. Your most important goal counts three times, the second twice. Add-ons for business model, size and existing systems come on top. The same answers always produce the same plan.
Why are there no prices on the page?
Because the effort of a block depends heavily on your starting point: data volume, integrations, existing systems. The page therefore shows only the order and the reasons. By email you also get a rough budget range per block from our effort model. It is not an offer; media budget and licences come on top. We clarify the exact figure in a conversation.
Do I have to enter my email address?
No. The plan appears right on the page. If you like, we'll email it to your business address.
Which duties does the plan consider?
The table above shows seven duties with date and source. The builder derives from your answers which of them appear below your plan: accessibility (BFSG) and the withdrawal button for consumer offerings, product safety (GPSR) for consumer online shops, e-invoicing always, consent under Section 25 TDDDG when tracking, ads or marketing automation are in the plan, Article 4 of the AI Act as amended by Regulation (EU) 2026/1744 for AI blocks and Article 50 for an AI assistant. For the goal “Meet compliance requirements”, the matching blocks move to the front. The plan is not legal advice.
What happens after the plan?
Every block links to the matching service and, where one exists, a free tool for the next step. If you want to talk about implementation, send us your plan with a request.

Put the plan into action

We talk about the building blocks of your first phase.

Profile picture of Paul Kalisch, Executive Partner
Paul Kalisch
Executive Partner
info@next-levels.de +49 (0) 2161 539 71 60