E-commerce in Europe has seen rapid growth in the past few years, thanks to the penetration of technology. In some of the countries, e-commerce is the key driver for economic growth. Moreover, the platform has increased productivity, created new jobs and decreased inefficiencies.
Bol.com, a leading retailer based out of the Netherlands is expected to open a branch office in Antwerp, Belgium in May 2019. Utrecht-based Bol.com was launched in 1999 has over 4 million active customers in the Netherlands and Belgium.
Sacha Buyck, Belgium manager at bol.com: “At the moment, 2 million Belgian consumers shop at bol.com . We want to serve them as well as possible. And we like to do this together with local players, because we believe that cooperation is the key to satisfied customers. There are already dozens of Belgians working at bol.com, but from the location in Antwerp we are even shorter with retailers and traders. In this collaboration we find it important that we share knowledge and learn from each other. In this way we can serve the customer as well as possible, which is ultimately what we do it for. Together we form a relevant store for millions of customers in Belgium and the Netherlands who also shop with our partners. ”
Here are the five ways how with the new branch office, Bol.com aims to focus on the Belgian B2B trading market.
#1 New office for partners in Belgium
The new office will be all about the cooperation with its local partners. Colleagues in Belgium will support and advise entrepreneurs in selling their assortment on the platform. Meanwhile, thousands of Belgian partners can already be found in the store as they saw Bol.com grow about 30 percent per year.
#2 Supports entrepreneurs
With this expansion, the online retailer aims to serve the existing 2000 Belgian retailers in a better way, who sells their products through Bol.com platform.
Their range will not only be available to Belgian customers now but also to millions of Dutch customers. This will mean an extra stimulus for Belgian retail.As per the company claims, half of the items sold on bol.com comes from Dutch and Belgian partners, which is expected to increase in the upcoming days.
#3 Logistics network for partners
In addition, partners will now have the opportunity, with Logistics via Bol.com, to stock their assortment in the fulfillment center of the store. For example, they will be able to use the distribution network of Bol.com and offer every desired delivery option to the customer.
#4 New job opportunity!
As a result of the expansion, the company is planning to hire market managers, partner advisors and partner specialists.
#5 Solves cross border purchasing problems!
Visitors of the online department store have access to over 17 million items in over 20 product category with just one mouse click. Bol.com is one of the most popular stores for Dutch-speaking customers in the Netherlands and Belgium.
Just like Albert Heijn and Delhaize, Bol.com is part of the Dutch supermarket group Ahold Delhaize. The offices and warehouses of Bol.com are located in the Netherlands until now.
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