The Portuguese Industrial Association (AIP) decided to launch the AGRUPAR – Joint Purchases for SMEs program, being the first initiative aimed at electricity.
In a first phase of this action, subscriptions and information will be collected that allow to know the consumption profile; in a second, and after the necessary technical and legal studies, it will launch a market consultation with lots of SMEs with a similar electricity consumption profile, in order to obtain better price and quality conditions for the provision of the service.
The launch of this initiative stems from the recognition of the disadvantaged business position of most SMEs when they individually establish contracts for the purchase of services. utilities which are provided by larger companies which are generally in markets with little or no competition.
Business associations such as AIP have been demanding solutions that make this relationship more balanced, namely, through more effective public regulation that ensures better price and service conditions for Portuguese SMEs.
Simultaneously with this type of intervention, it is possible to trigger actions to group SMEs with similar profiles of consumption of this type of services, in order to be able to make a joint purchase with greater bargaining power.
All over Europe, this type of action has multiplied, which has been designated as collective purchasing, with positive results for consumers, whether they are companies or families and with impacts on the better functioning of markets, with increased competition in the supply of services.
In addition to this action in the field of electricity, AIP will promote the “AGRUPAR – Joint purchases for SMEs” program in other areas of potential gain (gas, telecommunications, water, insurance, financial services, ICT services, surveillance and cleaning, etc.) , always in collaboration with the network of Regional Business Associations that will ensure coverage of the entire territory of mainland Portugal.
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