The mayoress of Arrecife, Ástrid Pérez, and the councillor for Commerce and Consumption, Armando Santana, presented this Monday the digital platform AOL-19 (Arrecife On Line Covid 19), which will bring together businesses located both in the open area of the centre and those operating in all the neighbourhoods. The website is already active and all businesses, companies, self-employed workers and suppliers operating in the capital can register on it for free.
According to the Town Hall, this is a project born "out of the need to provide solid support to Arrecife's trade during the state of alarm, but which will continue to operate fully once we return to normal". The website allows each business offering its services in the municipality to have a free online space where, through simple steps, they can make their catalogue of products and/or services available to their customers.
During the appearance before the media, Armando Santana explained the details of how the website works and stressed that its simple interface will facilitate its use and will be largely self-managed, as each user will be able to upload to the platform their catalogue, photographs, contact details and any information that may be useful to their customers when contracting their services, ordering food or ready meals to be delivered to their homes or buying articles of any kind. The digital support will have a permanent service, accessible from the platform itself, by email or by telephone.
"Safety is guaranteed"
Arrecife On Line Covid 19 will also have a "simple and practical user manual to guide the owners or managers of the shops in the processes of registration, modifications, creation of catalogues, etc.". Likewise, the Department of Commerce and Consumption will have its own manageable spaces on the platform to provide assistance, information and technical support for all entrepreneurs and citizens who use it.
"The security of the platform and the protection of the data of its users will be guaranteed at all times as the service will operate under a secure server (https), with SSL certificate" , the Town Hall stresses. "This model of security and privacy of data will be reinforced by the public service nature of the managing entities, the Department and the Town Hall, and by the absence of private advertising of any kind on the platform, as it will be a tool for public use aimed at supporting the capital's trade", they add.
Armando Santana stressed that "the platform that is launched today allows online orders to be placed and, progressively, will incorporate electronic means of payment as each professional user requests it. All sectors of commercial activity and services are welcome on this platform and it will evolve to incorporate new functionalities and in which everyone can contribute with the suggestions they wish to make".
"This is a small, large digital shopping centre to which we ask you to dedicate the necessary time to provide it with attractive and useful content, for which we have incorporated powerful and easy-to-use tools, such as the image upload manager. We are sure that the time you dedicate to it will be one of your best commercial investments", said the councillor.
