E-commerce in Brazil, which in 2013 topped R$31 billion, according to ABComm (Associação Brasileira de Comércio Eletrônico) continues to grow at accelerated rates, and Nova Pontocom, the umbrella for GPA’s e-commerce operations (www.extra.com.br, www.casasbahia.com.br, www.pontofrio.com.br, www.barateiro.com.br and www.partiuviagens.com.br, in addition to Pontofrio Atacado, Soluções B2B and e-Hub) is one of the companies best prepared to lead this sector.

In 2013, Nova Pontocom again proved its potential, adopting a strategy focused on gains in competitiveness and gearing to accelerate its growth. In line with GPA’s positioning during the year, the savings generated by revising processes and reducing expenses were reinvested in the competitiveness of prices, which contributed to increased customer flow, an increased conversion rate and gains in market share.

Attentive to the market functionalities and opportunity, Nova Pontocom in 2013 launched Extra Marketplace, a sales model that brings together on a single site the offerings from different stores, in various segments. The model, until now unprecedented in Brazil, entered into operation in the 2nd quarter of 2013 and closed the year with significant results: more than 250 vendors and 400,000 new items registered.

Along the same lines, the e-Hub business unit was strengthened, winning the technology and logistics operations for Nike’s online sales in Brazil (www.nike.com.br). For the volume of sales and the importance of the brand, the new account became the main business of the unit, which has other contracts with companies like Amazon (to market Kindle in Brazil), Microsoft, HP and Clinique (cosmetics), among others.

With its customer’s best shopping experience in mind, GPA has parlayed integrating e-commerce operations with the physical world, promoting initiatives with multiple channels and capturing synergies among the businesses.

In 2013, pilot services such as the "Store Take-Out" and "Electronic Catalog" were launched, guaranteeing more comfort and consumer access to the products marketed in the different formats. A distribution center for Nova Pontocom was also inaugurated in Camaçari (BA) in partnership with Via Varejo, reducing logistics costs and perfecting the level of service offered to customers in the region.

In addition, attentive to the strong growth of smart phones and to the growing share of sales through mobile devices in global e-commerce, Nova Pontocom redesigned its mobile sales structure, perfecting its consumers’ shopping experiences through this channel.

As a result, gross sales increased 28.5% over 2012, with improving performance each quarter – highlighted by the 2nd half of the year, when growth accelerated and a new sales record was set on Black Friday – which cemented Nova Pontocom as the runner up in the Brazilian e-commerce segment. In addition, the company’s results reached the break-even point in the 4Q13, guaranteeing robust cash generation during the year.