The Municipality of Loulé is implementing, in the cities of Loulé and Quarteira, the Digital Shopping Neighborhoods project, an initiative that aims to reinforce the competitiveness of traditional commerce through the adoption of technological solutions.
100% financed by the Recovery and Resilience Program (PRR), these two commercial neighborhoods aim to modernize the consumer experience and promote the digitalization of local commerce.
According to the municipality, the initiative aims to digitalize the consumer experience, while encouraging the implementation of innovative technological solutions.
Among the planned measures are the provision of information on free parking spaces, the reinforcement of the Wi-Fi network and the installation of digital billboards, creating new tools to support commercial activity and the movement of consumers in urban centers.
In Loulé, the area covered by the project extends from Bandstand, on Avenida José da Costa Mealha, to Largo de São Francisco. In Quarteira, the Digital Commercial District includes the area from the Quarteira Market to the beginning of the Calçadão, delimited by Avenida Dr. Carlos Mota Pinto.
Merchants who carry out activities in these areas will be able to integrate marketplace platforms, which will allow them to sell their products on a global scale and make their items available 24 hours a day.
Online platform reinforces commerce competitiveness
With this digital integration, merchants will be able to strengthen their competitiveness compared to large commercial areas and benefit from various online promotion and sales tools.
At the same time, through the Algarve Digital Commerce Accelerator, entrepreneurs will be able to apply for digital service vouchers, aimed at supporting the implementation of these solutions.
For consumers, the main advantage will be the possibility of more easily accessing local products, combining the proximity of traditional commerce with the convenience of digital platforms.
According to the mayor of Loulé, Telmo Pinto, the initiative also aims to support traders in adapting to new technologies.
As the mayor says, “we know about the ‘resistance’ of some traders to new technologies, but we have been in the field, with the support of neighborhood managers and contracted companies, promoting training actions with other entities such as the Algarve Hotel and Tourism School or the Algarve Businessmen’s Association”.
The person responsible adds that “the ultimate objective is to boost cities with street commerce, as this is the guarantee of dynamic, lively, safe, innovative cities and, if we can enhance their visibility and digital presence, increasing their sales, we believe it will be an added value”.
Telmo Pinto also highlights that “in the future, we intend for these solutions to extend throughout the entire territory of the municipality, enhancing trade and territorial dynamics”.
In the case of the Bairro Digital Comercial de Loulé, the consortium is made up of the Municipality of Loulé (leader), Parish Council of São Clemente, Parish Council of São Sebastião, ACRAL – Association of Commerce and Services of the Algarve Region and Loulé Concelho Global, EM.
The project in Quarteira involves the Municipality of Loulé (leader), Quarteira Parish Council, ACRAL – Association of Commerce and Services of the Algarve Region, Loulé Concelho Global, EM, Association of Entrepreneurs of the Algarve and Association of Entrepreneurs Por Quarteira.
More information about the projects can be found at: and .
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