In a pioneering initiative to support local markets and promote sustainable urban living, the municipality of Barcelona partnered with Hermeneus World, a leading digital solutions provider, to digitise the city’s local markets.
Barcelona City Council hired Hermeneus World, renowned for its white-label e-commerce platform, to enhance the digital presence of Barcelona’s local markets by creating Mercatsaunclic. This marketplace brings together different markets of the Catalan capital and grants users access to local and fresh products that can be bought with a few clicks from their computer or mobile app. In addition to this, the city wanted to take a step forward and offer a zero-emissions delivery option at checkout. That’s where TACTIC comes in.
With TACTIC’s innovative contribution, a new functionality was integrated into Hermeneus World’s product, specifically designed to support local eco-friendly delivery operators. This feature allows small and medium-sized logistics operators to easily register on the platform and extend their services to other businesses in need of deliveries.
Screenshot of the logistic operator registration feature in the Hermeneus World app.
A New Era for Local and Sustainable Delivery Operators
Local and sustainable logistic operators often struggle to compete with well-established, large-scale delivery services. To put a solution to this issue, the new Hermeneus World feature, developed within the TACTIC project, provides a platform tailored to the needs of small, sustainable delivery businesses. This new functionality enables local logistics operators to:
- Register Easily: Operators can sign up on the platform and easily share details of their company and services.
- Define Service Areas: Operators can specify their delivery zones, ensuring efficient and timely deliveries within their communities.
- Connect with Merchants and Buyers: The platform facilitates seamless interaction between logistic operators and local merchants, fostering a robust local economy.
- Customer acquisition costs: small local businesses must make a significant effort to become known and secure agreements with clients. By joining Mercatsaunclic, they immediately have access to several hundred businesses that need transport services because they sell online.
With this new feature, Hermeneus and TACTIC aim to create an expansive network of efficient and sustainable logistic operators.
Seamless user experience during the buying and delivery process
The Mercatsaunclick app offers a streamlined shopping experience that easily allows users to buy local and fresh products in a few clicks. When placing an order, users are presented with various delivery options, including those offered by local eco-friendly logistics operators. This not only supports sustainable practices but also provides customers with reliable and timely delivery services.
Screenshot showing delivery options available to users at the time of purchase.
At the moment, the sustainable delivery option is only available at Mercat de Provençals, one of the markets available at Mercatsaunclic and the market chosen for the TACTIC pilot in Barcelona.
Bridging the Gap for Local Delivery Operators
The new Hermeneus feature represents a significant step forward in levelling the playing field for local delivery operators. By providing a dedicated platform that addresses their unique needs, this initiative empowers small businesses to thrive in a competitive market dominated by large players. It also strengthens the local economy by keeping commerce within the community and supporting sustainable business practices.
