Integrator takes telemarketing systems to the cloud
Valor Econômico
A5 Solutions, which operates in the segment of integration of systems for telemarketing and customer services companies ('contact centers'), is investing in the offer of services in the cloud. Instead of buying the integrated system - a bundle of equipment and software is configured to work as a single tool - the client company pays a monthly fee to use the service. The physical structure is held by A5 Solutions and the access to the structure is made remotely through the Internet (the so-called cloud computing). The Director and founder of A5 Solutions, André Migliorelli, remarks the offer of the service in the cloud has lower initial cost to the client company, which makes it the most attractive business model.
A5 Solutions has invested R$ 3 million (US$ 1.9 million) in the purchase of equipment to guarantee the infrastructure required to offer services in the cloud. The company closed a partnership with Alog to store the software in a data center. It also has partners like Avaya, Cisco, Nice, Speakerbus, Altitude, Convergys and Polycom in the area of infrastructure and services for communications and the traffic of data is made by means of the phone carriers Intelig and Telefônica.
The first contract was closed with Serasa Experian. A5 has developed a project of 'contact center' in the cloud for Serasa Experian to offer services - like digital certification - to small businesses operating under the tax system of assumed profit. According to Migliorelli, the company has already closed a contract with two large clients, but the names are kept in secret. According to him, A5 Solutions currently manages 500 service positions that operate in the cloud. He calculates the number should be increased to 800 service positions in six months. His estimate is that this segment of the business represents 40% of the operation of the company until the end of the year. The company continues offering integrated systems in the traditional format to 60 clients.
A5 Solutions ended last year with earnings of R$ 21 million (US$ 13.1 million) and it projects growth between 30% and 40% for this year, while the market grows at a rate slightly above 20%. The company was founded four years ago as a dealer of Avaya for telemarketing companies and 'contact centers'. Over the years, it entered into partnerships with other companies to operate as a systems integrator.