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Luís Rodolfo: Hails the launch of the new platform as an important step in ANA’s commercial development |
PORTUGAL. ANA – Airports of Portugal has launched its first e-commerce platform developed especially for passengers. Airport Shopping Online appears at www.airport-shopping.eu and is said to provide a “one roof – one stop convenience” concept, whereby customers can shop in various stores located at Lisbon Airport, as well as take advantage of tourism and travel-related services.
As well as offering products for sale in the stores, the portal also offers solutions to help passengers plan their trips and make better use of the time they spend at the airport.
The project arose from a new Strategic Retail Development Plan for which a number of market studies were carried out and new consumer needs, behaviours and trends identified by ANA.
“In the course of this planning process it became very clear that we needed to have a greater presence online and explore a series of new opportunities, not only to strengthen two-way communication with our customers, but also to make the purchasing process easier and more convenient,” said Luís Rodolfo, Retail and Concessionaire Services Director at ANA-Airports of Portugal.
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Airport Shopping Online offers a range of products but also key services for travellers |
Products and services can be ordered up to seven days in advance or a minimum of five hours prior to departure and can be sent directly to the customer’s home or hotel, making it attractive for passengers who do not like to travel with bags.
Passengers who prefer to pick up their purchases at Lisbon Airport can do so at one of two pick-up points – one located in the public area of the Arrivals hall at Lisbon Airport and the other in the restricted access area of the Departures hall past the security checkpoint.
The website also allows passengers to take a 360-degree virtual tour of Lisbon Airport’s shopping areas, so they can become acquainted with the stores in advance and check out any special offers and promotions.
Passengers at Lisbon Airport can also purchase goods via the Airport Shopping Online virtual store located within the restricted area, close to boarding gates.
ANA said: “This store is, at the very least, an original way to sell and shop as it allows passengers to purchase their last souvenirs from Portugal, as well as fashion items, minutes before boarding their flight. Passengers simply scan the products’ QR code (Quick Response code) using their mobile phone and items can be added to either their wish list or their online shopping cart, or even shared on social networks.”
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Thousands of retail products are available, from beauty to fashion & accessories |
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Airport Shopping Online is part of an overall company strategy to improve passenger experience by strengthening direct communication with travellers, enabling a better understanding of their needs. It has involved renovating the website (which has approximately 6 million new visitors per year), launching a mobile application (for iOS, Android and Windows Mobile operating systems) and developing a new strategy for the social media.
Luís Rodolfo said: “There is no doubt that airports are fully integrated in the tourism value chain, where most customers are already used to doing online searches and making online transactions, whether to purchase airplane tickets, book hotels rooms or rent a car. And throughout the process of preparing for a journey, airports also have an important part to play. Therefore, the need to develop a project with the size and convenience of Airport Shopping Online became obvious because of the limited time that passengers have to look for products in airports.”
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With this drive, ANA-Airports of Portugal has renovated its website (which has approximately 6 million new visitors per year), launched a mobile application and developed a new strategy for social media |
ANA – Airports of Portugal has brought 30 concessionaires and retailers together in a single platform, involving leading brands like Furla, Bugatti or Carolina Herrera, offering thousands of beauty products, fashion articles and accessories, among others. The website also offers a personal stylist and a pediatrician to provide advice to online visitors.
Luís Rodolfo said: “This opens up a new chapter in our digital and commercial strategy, one that positions us as an ideal partner for airports all around the world that would like to invest in technological innovation and increase their knowledge and interaction with their customers. We believe that, with Airport Shopping Online, all our stakeholders come out winners. Brands and retailers will boost additional sales, since there is still a significant percentage of non-buyers at the airport that we expect to reach now; passengers win because they will enjoy a more convenient, hands free and well-planned service integrated with the rest of the airport information.”
In 2011, retail revenues at ANA-Airports of Portugal reached €50 million, an increase of more than €13 million since 2006.
“With innovative projects such as the Airport Shopping Online we expect to grow even more this year,” concluded Luís Rodolfo.
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The airport company is promoting the new e-commerce platform at Lisbon Airport |
