Belgrade, December 3, 2020 - The multifunctional application of the Glovo company and the leader in digital payment technologies Visa in Serbia have started a joint cooperation to provide support to local merchants and neighborhood shops, as they are amongst those most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The collaboration of these global companies has been established with the aim of making it easier for local stores to use new models and distribution and delivery channels which are based on digital tools. New technologies and the Internet offer a great advantage in bridging distances and solving commercial constraints, by expanding the circle of users who are otherwise difficult to reach, especially for small businesses and neighbourhood stores.
Over 500 small shops in 5 cities will be present together in the Local Market space within the Glovo application, which both companies will strongly promote through their campaigns. From the beginning of December until the mid-January, the support will cover pizzerias, confectioneries, wine bars, local delicatessens, restaurants, bakeries, pharmacies and other types of small businesses and neighborhood shops at a local level throughout Serbia. The initiative includes neighborhood shops from Belgrade, Nis, Kragujevac, Pancevo, Novi Sad and Subotica.
The business cooperation between the companies Glovo and Visa is designed to offer the products from the neighbourhood shops to the citizens of those cities and to stimulate purchasing from them especially during Holiday season. Another important goal of this cooperation is to help small shopkeepers on their path towards digitalization, which is essential for the development of their business. Development must be placed in a new market context, both on the demand and supply side, and fueled by strong growth in local consumption. That is why the companies Glovo and Visa offered the citizens a platform through the application Glovo, which will bring them together in buying from their neighbors in a fast, safe and efficient way.
Recently published results have shown a strong growth in terms of the increase in orders through the Glovo application, compared to the previous year. In addition, contactless payment is currently the more desirable method of payment in both Serbia and Europe, as two out of three purchases in stores are made via a contactless card.
"The deteriorating health situation has radically changed the approach of small neighborhood shops and local stores as they have had to adapt their business, relying much more on digitalization and digital channels than in the past. That is why delivery and e-commerce are becoming two essential allies, especially during the pandemic. This is because consumers, who find it increasingly difficult to physically visit stores for safety reasons, are given the convenience of safely receiving the necessary products, whereas retailers are given a virtual shop window where their products, that would not otherwise appear online in a short time, can be found. Our discount platform is not limited to delivery from one point of the city to another, but offers to its partners and users a market at the neighboring, local level. For every need to be supplied in your city, a solution can be found on the Glovo application", said Branimir Djurovic, director of Glovo Serbia.
"Buying from small and medium businesses is much more than just buying a product or using a service. For entrepreneurs who invest all their energy and efforts in their business, supporting them means confirmation that their work has paid off and that the community has recognized it. In this year of the pandemic, SME is the most economically vulnerable, and now more than ever we need to encourage this sector to continue on its development path. Visa supports small and medium-sized businesses around the world in the long run, and our cooperation with Glovo during the Christmas holidays is one of opportunities to contribute to that goal. We invite Visa cardholders to join us in this, as in the previous period, because their purchase can now make a difference. The campaign is a part of the global initiative #WhereYouShopMatters, which provides entrepreneurs with the opportunity to start or grow their business more efficiently using our advices, free educational programs, special offers and benefits", added Vladimir Djordjevic, Country manager of Visa for South-Eastern Europe.