Footwear company Bata, founded 125 years ago in Europe (current Czech Republic), has announced an important investment seeking to increase its influence in the Colombian market.

At present, his greatest interest is focused on technological updates which allow them to increase the number of visits to their stores. Among the new projects is the automation of stores and warehouses and the creation of a competitive e-commerce platform.

According to Justo Fuentes, President of Bata Latin America, the company's investments in Colombia will total an investment of 5 million US dollars in 2019: "This year we plan to open between 32 and 35 stores, which will join the 313 that we have throughout the country. In addition, we will have two new shop concepts: one is North Star, aimed at the youth segment, and the other is Weinbrenner, more than casual outdoor concept. Also this year we will open the new e-commerce portal. We are investing in Salesforce, a very stable and powerful global quality platform, factors that we must implement by the end of 2019", he concluded.

Fuentes said a company operating in Colombia cannot ignore the fact that there has been a significant drop in the influx of customers to stores while visitors to shopping centers fell by almost 11%.