PrestaShop initiated a formal restructuring process under French labor law called a Plan de sauvegarde de l'emploi, which is essentially the French legal framework for collective layoffs that requires government approval before any cuts are finalized.
The company cited intensifying competition, evolving merchant expectations, and accelerating innovation as the reasons behind the decision, but explicitly clarified that the move is NOT about AI replacing workers.
PrestaShop wrote in its press release:
“For more than 15 years, PrestaShop has been at the heart of open source ecommerce. Hundreds of thousands of merchants across the world have built and grown their businesses on our platform. That is something we are deeply proud of, and it remains the foundation of everything we do.
The ecommerce landscape, however, has changed profoundly. Competition has intensified, merchant expectations have evolved, and the pace of innovation has accelerated. To continue leading in this environment and keep building the product and services that merchants need, we have to make sure our organization is structured to move forward with the market.
After careful review of all available options, we concluded that this restructuring was the right course of action in order to ensure PrestaShop has the focus, the resources, and the agility to invest in what matters most: our platform, our ecosystem, and our merchants.”
The exact number of employees affected has not been disclosed, as the formal legal process under French law is still underway and nothing will be finalized until the government signs off on the plan. However, PrestaShop said existing merchant support, partner relationships, and product roadmaps will not be affected during the process.