The gas distribution companies of the Promigas investments
portfolio selected Open to renew their technology
platforms
· Following a rigorous international selection process, Promigas and its natural gas distribution companies selected Open to update their current business and operations management platform to the latest-generation SmartFlex.
· SmartFlex will provide business and operations management support for more than 2,200,000 customers of natural gas distribution companies in Colombia.
Miami, May 2011. In order to update the technology platform used to support their commercial and administrative operations, the natural gas distribution companies of the Promigas investments portfolio, Gases de Occidente, Surtigas, Gases del Caribe and its subsidiary Efigas, chose Open for implementation of 7th-Generation SmartFlex. This decision has followed a strict selection process during which the main application systems and best market practices, as well as operators with similar mission critical processes, were assessed and investigated and in which recognized global providers located in Europe, the US and Latin America were visited.
One of the most relevant factors in this choice was the experience obtained by having worked together with these organizations for over 13 years, which ensures continuity and support for business models and commercial practices that have proven successful in the Colombian market.
“After searching among the best national and international providers, Open was the best option due to the scope of its solution and the trust created in a business relationship that has lasted several years,” stated Magín Ortiga, Project Leader and Surtigas General Manager.
Promigas distribution companies will improve their technology platform and management models (industrial and residential gas, insurance and non-bank financing) thanks to the comprehensive products and services portfolio management features of SmartFlex. The GAS BOSS Generation 7 SmartFlex suite of products comes with a new, light final user interface created using Apps technology, which adds the geographical dimension to all system information and queries. It also includes new campaign and marketing & project management and contracts modules, powerful new setup tools and a new customer management redefinition for agile and efficient commercial/administrative activities, all of which significantly improve response times and service quality.
“The value Promigas and its distribution companies have recognized in Open is very important to us,” said Hernando Parrott, Open Vice President for Business Development. “It is a vote of confidence and acknowledgement of our experience and good results, extended to us by one of the most prestigious energy sector organizations in Colombia and Latin America.”
This project will be developed in stages, starting in the first quarter of 2011 with a presentation on the scope of the solution made before the distribution companies. During the second semester of 2011 the solution will be deployed in Gases de Occidente, and the process will be replicated simultaneously in Surtigas, Gases del Caribe and Efigas. To ensure success and facilitate independent execution of some of the subsequent stages, a work team has been created including collaborators from these organizations and Open technology specialists.
“Promigas expectations for this new tool include enhancing best practices of the four companies in order to standardize a unique business model, while providing excellent service to our natural gas users,” Antonio Celia Martínez Aparicio, President of the Promigas holding company, stated.
About Promigas
The Promigas organization, with its recognized trajectory and established presence in several Latin American nations, is a holding company gathering 12 natural gas transport and distribution companies and telecommunications and electric power distribution companies present in Colombia, Peru and Panama.
Promigas is the oldest private natural gas distribution company in Latin America and a pioneer in the mass consumption of this fuel in Colombia. Its services benefit close to 9 million Colombians located in 246 population centers, 85% of which are classified in the lower income strata levels 1,2 y 3 [of the total of 6 such officially recognized income levels in Colombia].
Promigas currently supplies 43% of the natural gas provided in Colombia by way of 2,200 km of its own gas pipelines, and close to 73% of same through the transport companies included in its portfolio. Promigas also operates about 700 km of third party gas pipelines.
The Promigas natural gas distribution companies are:
Gases de Occidente S.A. – Provides natural gas to 27 population centers located in western Colombia with more than 600,000 users, who currently enjoy the advantages of an affordable, safe and reliable service.
Gases del Caribe S.A. – A leading natural gas distribution company covering 90% of the Caribbean coast regional departments of Atlántico, Magdalena, Cesar and northern Bolívar. Gases del Caribe provides service to more than 640,000 users in more than 95 population centers of its influence area, including residential, business and industrial customers.
Surtigas S.A. – With over 40 years in the market, Surtigas is a leading natural gas marketing and distribution organization in the northern departments of Bolívar, Sucre and Córdoba, currently serving 460,000 users.
Efigas S.A. – A natural gas marketing and distribution company operating in the departments of Caldas, Risaralda and Quindío.
About Open Systems™ (www.openinternational.com)
Open Systems is a software industry leader specialized in the telecommunications and public service sectors. Focused in the Latin American market, it has achieved differentiation through its BOSS approach, which combines BSS (Business Support Systems) and OSS (Operations Support Systems) functionalities more commonly known as billing, customer service and operations.
Open has completed more than 70 successful installations of its systems in public utility and telecom companies in 14 Latin American nations.
For more information please contact:
Open Systems Marketing Manager
Paula Tejada (ptejada@open.com.co)
María del Mar Caldas
Open Systems Communications Office
Aura Fernández (aura.fernandez@axoncomunicacion.biz)
Jose David Nieto Ripoll (jose.nieto@axoncomunicacion.biz)
Telephone: +1 (305) 6773149
