Emtelco Receives Frost & Sullivan Best Practices Award

SAO PAULO, Nov. 30, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- After a recent and rigorous study conducted by Frost & Sullivan, Emtelco, one of the biggest and most solid groups providing telecommunications services in Colombia, has been announced as winner for the Growth Leadership Award in Colombia inside the contact center outsourcing services market. This recognition is a result of Emtelco's accomplishments and superior performance in this industry, delivering excellence and best practices in how to conduct business in this sector.  

(Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20081117/FSLOGO)

The Frost & Sullivan Award for Growth Leadership is presented to the company that has demonstrated excellence in capturing the highest annual compound growth rate for the last 3 years. In a very competitive market, Emtelco increased its revenues close to 20% during 2009, being able to position itself among the TOP 5 companies in the Colombian Market for the first time. Some key drivers, which were analyzed by Frost & Sullivan, added enormous value to Emtelco's performance in this market. Major contributors to its success include an effective penetration strategy and the ability to diversify client portfolios.

At the end of 2007 the company had around 1500 employees, but nowadays employs 4000 people. Emtelco has 3 contact centers located in main Colombian cities, such as Cali, Pereira and Medellin with over 2000 workstations and 2500 agents. They also provide face-to-face sales and collection services in 5 other cities of the country. Even though the company originally was exclusively focused on providing services to EPM group, at present they have increased customer portfolios, providing services to diverse clients. One of their most recent clients is the biggest compensation fund within Colombia, which required services to be provided in several cities across the country.

Currently, Emtelco, which is a local state-owned company, is able to leverage two relevant factors of its close relations with the government. In the first place, in Colombia, the government is still the biggest vertical segment in terms of investments, but what is even more relevant for this industry is that the Colombian government has increasingly turned to outsourcing several processes, looking forward to gain more efficiency and flexibility. Besides, Emtelco was also able to make the most of several local incentives to impel its growth, such as the exemption of Industria y Comercio and Property tax, among others.

Emtelco has performed continued investments in Colombia. The key focus remains within the Utilities, Telecommunications and Government verticals; however it is currently growing its presence in the healthcare and retail segments as well. The aim to export services also led the company to build a new subsidiary exclusively created to offer offshore services to the United States and Spain markets.

Frost & Sullivan´s research methodology is a unique approach that enables them to determine how best in class companies manage growth, innovation and leadership. "Our unique and rigorous approach to research provides a 360 degree view of the industry challenges and key trends, and Emtelco has the ability to deliver excellence and best practices driving the company's growth and market share in Colombia," said Frost & Sullivan Industry Manager, Juan Gonzalez.

Emtelco will be receiving the award during the 2010 Frost & Sullivan Latin America Best Practices Excellence Banquet, to be held December 2nd, at the Renaissance Hotel in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

About Frost & Sullivan

Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, enables clients to accelerate growth and achieve best in class positions in growth, innovation and leadership. The company's Growth Partnership Service provides the CEO and the CEO's Growth Team with disciplined research and best practice models to drive the generation, evaluation and implementation of powerful growth strategies. Frost & Sullivan leverages almost 50 years of experience in partnering with Global 1000 companies, emerging businesses and the investment community from 31 offices on six continents. To join our Growth Partnership, please visit: http://www.frost.com

About Emtelco

EMTELCO S.A. is part of the business group UNE EPM Telecommunications, one of the biggest and solid groups providing telecommunications services in Colombia, South America. Their expertise is in the management of outsourced services such as: Debt Collection, Selling, Back Office, Customer Service, Relationship Marketing, Help Desk, After-Sell Services, between others.

SOURCE Frost & Sullivan