PROJECTS

SCOPE

It is widely recognised that technologies and digital media can challenge an organizations sense of scale. We find examples of this in small businesses and local initiatives that achieve global success through the provision of online sales and services.

Recent studies show that there are benefits in using integrated electronic processes, which may differ between companies dedicated to manufacturing or providing services. While in manufacturing the benefits essentially come from managing processes related to supply chains, in the provision of services they generally come from managing customers and sale processes. Furthermore, the same studies indicate that the presence of employees who use information and communication technologies (ICT) within the organisation has a significant impact on productivity, suggesting that the use of ICT generates behavioural changes with an impact on the performance of organisations [1].

The use of information and communication technologies refers to the ability for companies to manage and share data electronically, avoiding, or at least significantly reducing, paper data processing. It also refers to the unprecedented opportunities available to companies, allowing them to enter new markets and participate in global distribution chains. There are, however, several barriers to the widespread adoption of these concepts and tools, with the greatest challenges concentrated in small organisations, whose means and skills are still limited. In addition, there are relevant technical aspects that require deeper reflection, such as security and data privacy aspects [2].

In the last two decades, both ICT and the Internet have significantly changed the way companies process and exchange data with their customers and suppliers. Large companies took the lead in this process of digitisation and dematerialisation of flows, quickly recognising the potential underlying the implementation of integrated information and management systems capable of supporting and enhancing technical, financial and commercial operations, as well as supporting decision-making [3]. With technological advances, most of these solutions have become accessible to medium-sized organisations. The number of medium-sized companies that use ICT for various purposes is already significant. It is necessary, however, to promote the rapid acceptance of ICT by smaller companies, in particular by micro and small companies dedicated to local commerce.

[1] OECD (2008): Measuring the Impacts of ICT Using Official Statistics
[2] European Commission - Fostering SMEs growth through digital transformation
[3] ICT and e-Business for an Innovative and Sustainable Economy, 7th Synthesis Report of the Sectoral e-Business Watch (2010)

MAIN OBJETIVE

The core objective of the DreAM Project | DigitAl Management is the transfer of knowledge and tools to micro, small and medium-sized companies dedicated to the manufacture and local trade of building materials and systems, boosting their presence in digital media, implementing integrated management models, dematerialisation of processes, namely in the relationship with customers and suppliers, and the making of informed and up-to-date decisions, namely in economic and financial terms.

In this context, is intended to design a web platform through which beneficiary companies can access, allowing them to create a business website (with online store) and respective management modules free of charge. The products presented in the online store can be made visible in a global Marketplace, enhancing the visibility of the products made available by the companies using this solution, reinforcing the collective nature of the Project. It will also serve as a privileged tool in identifying market opportunities, needs and niches.

It is also important to highlight the importance that the developed solution will have as a practical tool in the implementation of management models that aim to prepare companies for some of the ISO 9001 Certification requirements and in the application of approaches that allow to reinforce the collective dimension and take advantage of the scale effect.

PROJECT ACTIVITIES AND MAIN RESULTS

The DreAM Project is structured around seven main activities:

• Activity 1 - Creation of the Project's visual identity
• Activity 2 - Recognition of the digital maturity of potential Project beneficiaries
• Activity 3 - Systematisation of good practices, solutions and resources
• Activity 4 - Development of tools
• Activity 5 - Dissemination of knowledge and dissemination of results
• Activity 6 - Monitoring of Project indicators
• Activity 7 - Technical management

Through this project, it is intended to design a solution based on a web environment that allows micro, small and medium-sized companies to enter the digital economy and, at the same time, access tools that allow an integrated management and the dematerialization of processes. With these well-defined objectives, the aforementioned set of activities was proposed, which essentially aims to systematize and transfer knowledge / tools to SMEs dedicated to the manufacture and local trade of materials and construction systems.

LIST OF COMMUNICATIONS

• António Tadeu (Itecons), Maria José Caçador (Compete 2020), Andreia Gil (Itecons), André Fernandes (Itecons/ Project Box), Pedro Almeida (Secure Networks), Mafalda Cardoso (Itecons), invited Companies. “Plataform DreAM - DigitAl Management” (Closing Digital Session of the DreAM – DigitAl Management Project). 15th July 2020.
• Mafalda Cardoso (Itecons), Rita Raposo (Itecons). Presentation in the event “Lagos Start On To Start Up – 2nd Meeting of Entrepreneurship”, at the University and Innovation Conference - Entrepreneurs and Initial Capital Raising. 11th October 2019, Lagos, Portugal.
• Gina Matias (Itecons), Rita Raposo (Itecons). Session “Partnerships for the innovation and development of the Natural Stone Industry – Laboratory, CE Marking and Quality Management”. Feira STONE. 13th June 2019, Batalha, Portugal.
• Mafalda Cardoso (Itecons). “Projeto DreAM – Digital Management”. Tektónica Fair 2019, where the 5th National Meeting of the Window and Facade Sector of the National Association of Manufacturers of Efficient Windows (ANFAJE) took place. 8th May 2019, Lisbon, Portugal.
• Mafalda Cardoso (Itecons).” ITeCons | A partner for the Digital Transformation in the industry”. CINCOS’18: 6ª edition of the Sustainable Habitat cluster Congress. 7th December 2017, Aveiro, Portugal.
• Mafalda Cardoso (Itecons). “Companies in the Construction Sector and the Digital Economy”. Seminar in the Industrial Association of Expanded Polystyrene (ACEPE). 15th November 2018, ITeCons, Coimbra, Portugal.

LIST OF NEWS AND ADVERTISING IN THE MEDIA

• Various publications in the website (11th April 2020) and social networks of the Compete 2020.
• Project “DreAM – Digital Management”. Correio da Feira, 6th May 2020.
• “Faça já o pré-registo da sua empresa nesta ferramenta gratuita”. Diário do Alentejo, 28th February 2020.
• “Faça já o pré-registo da sua empresa nesta ferramenta gratuita”. Construção e Reabilitação Special Edition. Diário de Coimbra, February 2020.
• “Solução digital gratuita para pequenas e médias empresas”. Diário do Alentejo, 31st January 2020.
• “Faça já o pré-registo da sua empresa nesta ferramenta gratuita”. Jornal de Notícias, 22nd February 2020.
• “Faça já o pré-registo da sua empresa nesta ferramenta gratuita”. Materiais de Construção Magazine, March 2020, no. 191.
• “Solução digital gratuita para pequenas e médias empresas”. Jornal de Notícias, 25th January 2020.
• “Solução digital gratuita para pequenas e médias empresas”. Construção Magazine, September/October 2019, no. 93.
• “Solução digital gratuita para pequenas e médias empresas”. Materiais de Construção Magazine, November 2019, no. 190.
• “Solução digital gratuita para pequenas e médias empresas”. Diário de Coimbra, PME Excelência e Líder Special Edition, May 2019.
• “Solução digital gratuita para pequenas e médias empresas”. Materiais de Construção Magazine, May 2019, no. 188.
• “Solução digital integrada para pequenas e médias empresas”. Materiais de Construção Magazine, December 2018, no. 186.
• “Solução digital integrada para pequenas e médias empresas”. Construção Magazine, September/October 2018, no. 87.
• Various citations in the Newsletter of the Sustainable Habitat Cluster and social networks of NERBA.
• Various references in medias such as: Meio Byte (online, 4th April 2020), Santarém City Council Investor Platform (22nd April 2020), Portugal 2020 (online, 23rd April 2020), Campeão das Províncias ( online, 15th May 2020), Notícias de Coimbra (online, 15th May 2020), O Instalador (online, 15th May 2020), Diário As Beiras (newspaper and Facebook; 15th and 16th May 2020), Diário de Coimbra (16th May 2020), General Secretariat of the Digital Economy and Transition (online, 18th May 2020), Economists Council (online, 22nd April 2020), Indústria e Ambiente (18th May 2020), Edifícios e Energia (22nd May 2020), APCMC (online, 22nd June 2020), etc.