We have witnessed that online shopping, that is, ordering via the Internet, has become a complementary way of traditional shopping in recent years, and that it has gained momentum in practically every sphere of life. With the opportunities of fast lifestyles came the need for concepts that provide an adequate answer to this. This is exactly what "Q commerce" is, i.e. the concept of fast trade, of which Glovo is a pioneer in our market, as well as in the international market. More about this concept, as well as the plans of Glovo Montenegro company executive director, Bojana Radović.
Can you bring us closer to the concept of q-commerce, what are the elements that differentiate it from the online shopping we are already used to? Noo are its advantages?
Q-commerce, i.e. a store that emphasizes the speed of delivery, is the latest trend in the field of online shopping, which provides customers with the delivery of the desired products in a record short time, wherever and whenever they want it. This trend, of course, reached its peak during the coronavirus pandemic when our movement was limited and it was not advisable to do shopping in closed rooms with a lot of people.
It is important to point out that with the change in the pandemic situation, this type of trade has not lost its attractiveness, on the contrary. People saw that spontaneous dinners with friends and family can happen without the stress of going shopping, and that Glovo is their ally in this and similar situations. Also, we hear more and more from our users that Glovo Express, our fast food shopping center in Podgorica, is useful in the most critical moments, especially when guests arrive unannounced.
The matter is very simple - on the application you choose the desired product from the desired brand, and the entire process - selection, shipment tracking, constant communication with the customer service - takes place through the application itself, which makes the user experience easier and more receptive for all generations.
What are the products that can be ordered this way?
What we are trying to convey to our users in Montenegro is that we are not an application that only offers food delivery, which I believe is a perception that we often encounter in our society. Our offer is really much more diverse than that and includes bookstores, florists, pet stores, cosmetics and jewelry stores and much more. Our focus is to continuously expand our offer with new content, and in the coming period we plan to cooperate with companies that operate in the field of electronic devices, as well as to improve the existing assortment for children. In addition, we remain committed to expanding the range of companies that are existing partners on the application. An increase in the production program would automatically mean a larger number of orders, easier trade for our users, greater traffic for our partners, and the possibility for users to get an insight into the complete offer of the brand they are ordering from, from the comfort of their homes.
The diversity of Glovo's offer is confirmed by the fact that the application can also be used as a platform for selling tickets for events in Montenegro. Organizers of large and small events in our country have recognized Glovo as a valuable partner to reach those interested in their events more easily and quickly. Due to the great interest in such cooperation, we expect that during the summer season, when numerous festivals take place in our country, we will promote this segment of business in the right way, through the establishment of new partnerships.
So, very specifically: from oil for French fries, just when we want it; through baby diapers or adapted food, and parents know how important this option is; beer, to increase the pleasure of following matches and results in a home atmosphere with friends; gifts for a loved one in the form of flowers, jewelry or cosmetics; and finally tickets for the concert of your favorite band - you can find all this on the Glovo application.
How does Glovo support small businesses in Montenegro with its service?
Participation in the application is a chance for small businesses. We make available to them access to our community, which we have been building with care and dedication for more than a year in Montenegro, and we also enable them to deliver a service that, if they were to provide it themselves, would cost them more than they can often afford.
Specifically, as far as fast trade, that is, q commerce, is concerned, I believe that Glovo can be an aggregator on the Montenegrin market, given that such an aggregator does not currently exist in our country, as is the case in the world, through platforms such as Amazon. And not only in the product sector, but also in the service sector. Glovo has already launched in some countries the possibility to access the services of master electricians, carpenters or other types of support through the application, and we are planning the same in Montenegro.
Our goal is to be an integral part of the ecosystem and infrastructure that helps small businesses grow, and thus to stimulate the local economy in every city where we are present.
This year was also marked by the opening of the first Glovo express center in Podgorica, one of the few in the region. What are the reactions of the people of Podgorica to this type of service, do you plan to expand it to other cities in our country?
As everywhere we have launched a similar center, the reactions have been great. The concept of Glovo express brought fast trade to perfection - delivery within 20 minutes in the capital was unimaginable until Glovo express. Our fellow citizens know that they value it and that's why they use this service more and more.
As I mentioned, our long-term goal is to be present in every corner of Montenegro, and I have no doubt that this intention of ours will materialize over time. However, we must be aware that putting a center such as Glovo Express into operation is challenging and demanding from several aspects. First, it implies logistics and circumstances, which despite all our efforts sometimes, as for example in the summer on the Montenegrin coast, cannot be fully present. The quality and credibility of what we offer our users is of crucial importance for us, there is no compromise. That is why we will only launch this concept in other cities of Montenegro when we are sure that we can remain faithful to the speed of delivery.
Also, what is important for this aspect of sales, and what we are working hard on internally not only for economic, but above all for environmental reasons, because bringing as many two-wheelers and sustainable forms of mobility to the streets of the cities where we are present. Bicycles, scooters, electric and hybrid vehicles are something we will particularly insist on in the coming period.
Glovo Montenegro has big plans, to what extent do you have support from the headquarters in Barcelona and other centers?
Glovo Montenegro is part of a large international Glovo family. Contacts with the company's headquarters in Barcelona, but also with regional centers in Southeast Europe and the rest of the continent are on a daily basis. As a company, we have regular gatherings where we connect with each other, in order to exchange practical experiences, but also so that our employees can see what it means to work for an international company, which is a particularly attractive aspect for people who come to work at Glovo. The experience of our colleagues and the possibility of gaining insight into what their knowledge is is of immeasurable importance for us, bearing in mind that they have been in the industry and on the market much longer than we have in Montenegro. So, working at Glovo Montenegro is really a combination of the best - an opportunity to work with colleagues from all over the world, but also to promote what is local and good. Our team currently consists of 20 people. Because we have big plans for the Montenegrin market and are working hard to improve our service to end users and partners, we are constantly looking for new team members. In this regard, we are currently looking for two team members in the positions of Senior Financial Analyst and Financial Manager.
