Dubai, December 15, 2011

28th place, the highest score ever for an UAE based company in this prestigious list

At a spectacular gala event at the London Towers on November 24 last year ODS2 FZ LLC has finished at rank 28th in the Deloitte Technology Fast 500 EMEA. The Deloitte Technology Fast 500TM EMEA program is the region's most objective industry award program, recognizing technology companies that have achieved the fastest rates of revenue growth in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) during the past five years.

“The Technology Fast 500 is a true barometer for our industry, elevating the companies that not only drive innovation but also sustain revenue growth,” says Said Zahraoui, CEO of ODS2 FZ LLC. “ODS2 has seen massive revenue growth over the last five years, and that trend is set to continue into the future. We are honored to be part of this distinguished list and look forward to future rankings.”

The high position of ODS2 in this list is a direct consequence of the international successes over recent years with clients such as KPN and Sonos. This list demonstrates the leading role of the ODS2 software in its sector in terms of Field Marketing, Field Sales and Partner Relationship Management Software

Said Zahraoui, CEO of ODS2, is very delighted with the high ranking in the Deloitte Technology Fast 500 EMEA 2011. "Rank 28 exceeds all our expectations. Last year we achieved a spot just inside the top 100. We talk about Europe, Africa and the Middle East. There are a huge number of technology companies operating in this enormous region. To achieve such a position is a direct result of delivering 3 distinguishing software solutions suitable for many markets”

May 5, 2011

Enschede, May 5, 2011

ODS2 today announced that Sonos, the leading provider of wireless multi-room music systems, will use ODS2 Field Marketing Software for managing its point of sales material, the planning of training sessions and in-store demo sessions, and the production of management information.
Sonos is intending to implement FMS in Germany, the United Kingdom, Belgium, The Netherlands, Luxumbourg and France. At a later stage other countries may follow.



Sonos made use of a shortlist with next to ODS2, two other suppliers of field marketing systems. The simple and transparent reports of ODS2 FMS and the quality of the ODS2 consultants let the decision work out in ODS2’s advantage, according to Mark Vellinga, Country Manager Benelux of Sonos. Due to the multi-agency module Sonos can simply carry out a project in several countries. The computed data from the software is advantageous as it enables a good comparison between the countries. Both parties expect that this agreement is the starting point of a long and intensive cooperation, leading to 360-degree insight per store, with complete control over everything that happens on the sales floor.

Relevant information
ODS2 FMS supports all major retail activities of Sonos, such as improving visibility, managing point of sales material in stores and increasing the knowledge and motivation of shop employees in relation to the brand Sonos.

Vellinga: The Field Marketing Software ODS2 distinguishes itself in the market because all the gathered store data is easily turned into clear and relevant management information. The data does not remain abstract; instead it is clear and directly applicable. With ODS2 FMS Sonos has the expertise to make the right sales and marketing decisions.

Self-determination
Mark Hekkelman, commercial director of ODS2 is delighted with the deal: I am very pleased for several reasons that Sonos will make use of our field marketing software. In the first place Sonos is a brand that stands for quality and reliability. That they choose us as their partner says something about our software and about us as a supplier. Secondly Sonos is also a paragon of marks, which make the decision about field marketing software by their own and don’t subordinate the choice of software to the choice of the field-marketing agency they want to work with. They simply choose the software that is best for them.

24 april 2011

Enschede, 24 april 2011

ODS2 is with his Partner Relationship Management Platform one of the final three contenders for the IT Project of the Year Award 2011. One of the main criterions in this contest is the added value for the business. ODS2 implemented the platform for Distribution Service Provider baZoeKa. The intermediary between providers and resellers for broadband, digital TV, mobile Internet, energy and automation services, managed to fully automate his services and also take advantage of the future with all-in-one packages for all services in and around the house.

In the contest, organized by IT Transformation and IT Management Magazine (TITM), the most important criterion is the added value the project gives to a business. Other aspects that are taken into consideration are: the ought be central position of the customer, the extent to which the project is a shared effort of business and IT, and that the project be completed within predetermined time and budget.

Last week Mark Hekkelman, CEO of baZoeKa, convinced the jury of the IT Project of the Year Award 2011, consisting of Hans Borgman of the University of Leiden, Arnoud van Gemeren, Chief Editor of Magazine IT Management, Aloys Kregting, CIO of DSM and Bart de Ruijter, CEO of Metri, in a half-hour dialogue of the distinctive aspects of the Order Management Platform ODS2.

Some aspects in Hekkelmans presentation were:
- One system for different types of customers
- The unprecedented flexibility of the system, through easy configurable catalogs
- No need for IT resources
- Direct link between retail and e-tail
- Savings in FTE

Edwin Poorthuis, CEO of ODS2, is proud of the fact that the jury thinks so highly of his company's Order Management Platform, 'The most important thing is that our customers are satisfied with our platform and manage to create added value for their business with it. The fact that an independent jury sings the praises of our platform is a welcome bonus. Especially when you know the projects that were nominated last year. We are proud that to be on the same list as Heineken, Fokker Services, TNT and ING.

Hekkelman will present the case again next Monday during the IT Transformation conference. The winner will be announced during a festive ceremony.

More information about the event and the Award can be found at: www.it-transformation.nl/ITTransformation

22march 2011

Enschede, 22 march 2011

The Dutch Competition Authority NMa fined two energy companies last week because their door-to-door sales activities were not legal. Mark Hekkelman, commercial director of ODS2 and a specialist in direct sales, says that the energy companies could have avoided the enormous fines by focusing less on short-term gain and instant success. "Companies that want to practice door-to-door selling in a good way should try to build a sustainable relationship with their consumers."

In several occasions last year, TV program Kassa paid attention to the canvassing activities of energy companies. As a result of the media focus, numerous reports regarding abuses on canvassing fell on the doormat of the NMa and the Consumer Authority. The NMa completed an investigation following the alleged reports on the subject and found that consumers were often insufficiently informed about the contract offered to them. As a consequence of these findings the NMA has given Energie:direct and Greenchoice a fine, of over one million and two million euros respectively.

Profit above everything else
Mark Hekkelman, commercial director of ODS2 and specialist in Direct Sales, believes that the companies that were fined have brought the calamity down on themselves: "It starts with the way companies purchase canvassing activities. In many cases the door-to-door companies get paid for each contract they sell. Apparently more value is attached to sales in the short term than to a long-term relationship with the customer. This is evident in the reward structure of many companies, as it encourages door-to-door sellers to be deceitful in order to sell a contract, and thereby lose sight of the customers’ genuine interest."

Long-term relationship
According to Hekkelman door-to-door selling can be done otherwise: "Increased sales and the interests of consumers are not mutually exclusive. On the contrary, by building a durable, content-based relationship with your customers and prospects, you are in a better position to respond to their needs and thus to achieve more sales."

Hekkelman is clear about how to achieve this: "Companies should not only do direct sales, but would be better off if they combined this with for example telephonic acquisition. This allows meetings at the door to act as an initial, personal meeting with the consumer, to inventory the consumer’s needs and to inform them about all the possibilities and impossibilities. When a customer is interested, they can close the deal at a later date by phone. This leads to more transparency, better protection for consumers and less fraud and abuse."

Ambassadors
According to Hekkelman the agents who sell door-to-door also have to be seen more as a showpiece of the energy suppliers: "A good, informative talk at the door by a friendly person is very valuable for the long term. It creates brand awareness and can lead to brand preference and higher sales in the long term. Companies therefore should do right to not only see the canvassers as sellers, but also as ambassadors of their company. And of course the sellers have to act like this."

Hekkelman regrets that Green Choice has given up their canvassing activities: "If you have insight in and control over your direct sales process, through the use of supportive software, you can make your sales process not only effective, but you can also respond better to the consumers’ demand."

12 march 2011

Enschede, 12 march 2011

Distribution Service Provider baZoeKa improves the service for suppliers, dealers and providers due to the implementation of the new ODS2 platform. Several sales supporting features are added, such as sales- oriented order forms and a new ticketing system. Since installation, the new platform has led to increased sales numbers across the full breadth of the market.

baZoeKa is the largest online operating distribution service provider in the Netherlands for all facilities in and around the house. These include broadband, digital TV, mobile Internet, and home security and energy services. baZoeKa works with almost all Dutch telecom providers and has more than two thousand business members. The Distribution Service Provider already fully automated all the processes with its providers and dealers. Activities such as order processing and decentralized bonus payments run without manual intervention.

Migrating to the new login portal ODS2 baZoeKa have given distributors and providers several benefits:

- A personal dashboard. A reseller is now able to set up his own home page on the baZoeKa platform, with just the information relevant for him.
- Well-defined information of the available subscriptions. With a quick glance it now becomes clear for a reseller which subscriptions they can offer and it is easier for them to demonstrate to customers the differences between all offerings.
- Sales supporting order forms. With more cross and upsell opportunities. All options which the customer chooses, will be directly visible, making the customer continuously aware of the actual costs.
- Clear contracts. The customer automatically receives an email confirmation, along with a new contract format: clearer and less ambiguous.
- Several new reporting options. A real-time insight, with improved graphics, is created for each dealer, giving an overview of sales, incentive scores, and bonuses.
- Updated ticketing system. With this module, the contact between providers and distributors is improved.

Speaking about the new platform, Mark Hekkelman the CEO of baZoeKa says: “It is not only us to proclaim that our service is improved. Also our providers and distributors are very positive about the new possibilities, especially because their sales numbers increased from the moment we implemented our new platform. To be honest, this effect exceeds our own expectations. We have expected to maintain current sales levels during a ‘rebuilding’, but realizing an increase is really unprecedented."

Mark Hekkelman attributes the increased sales to the simplicity and accessibility of the new platform, but also to the curiosity and excitement of the resellers: In the last week before the migration, we had intensive communication with our market. Because of this users have become active again and resellers are stimulated to think about their opportunities regarding new services in and around the house.

10 October 2010

Enschede, October 11, 2010

ODS2, software in the areas of Field Marketing, Order Management, Call Centres and Direct Sales, is the fifth fastest growing technology company in the Netherlands. This was announced Thursday at the ceremony for the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 award in Eindhoven.

The software service provider from Enschede's growth not only continued from the previous year but has even managed to accelerate. In the last edition of the Deloitte Fast50, ODS2 ranked fourteenth with a revenue growth of 1684 percent. This year the results were even better, with a five year annualized (2005 - 2009) revenue growth of as much as 1980 percent. This resulted in a fifth place ranking.

Edwin Poorthuis CEO ODS2, is very pleased with the fifth place ranking: "That we are now the fifth fastest growing technology company in the Netherlands, makes me very proud. We know of course that the market demand for our software as a solution is very strong. Direct Sales, Field Marketing Software and Order Management Software. But fifth spot really exceeds our expectations. "

Poorthuis cites several factors to explain the success of his enterprise: "Our software is of high quality and offers a practical solution to the challenges facing many companies. Our software is aimed at the business of our clients to help them build sustainable cost savings. Our Direct Sales Software for example, supports the sales process at the door and improves its quality. In addition, we take risks. When opportunities arise in the market, we react quickly and are both nimble and flexible giving our customers a significant advantage. "

ODS2 has a proven track record in accessing relevant information, and is particularly active in industries with high transaction volumes and a strong presence in the telecommunications, financial and energy sectors. At the front of the supply chain with order intake and monitoring and responding to consumer behavior. At the back to improve support processes, clear reporting and advanced analytics, giving customers better insight and transparency into their data. Combining global experience across a broad range of industries, ODS2 works with large organizations including some of the world's leading brands to help transform the way they use information to drive their businesses to higher levels of performance.

12 March 2010

ODS2 recently announced the opening of its new headquarters in Dubai, UAE. The offices will serve as a strategic beachhead for the company who have been active in the European and North American markets for over a decade. The new offices will house administrative offices, sales and marketing, development as well as creative and design studios.

CEO, Said Zahraoui says “with the continued growth and business fundamentals in the region, it was a natural fit for ODS2 Inc. We see great potential for Dubai and the Gulf region in general.” With the new offices in Dubai, clients can expect round-the-clock, multi-lingual support in addition to the same high level of service that has distinguished ODS2 in the market place up to now.

Among the strengths that ODS2 offers in the marketplace you’ll find:

• Extensive industry expertise
• Broad and evolving service offerings
• Expertise in IT consulting
• Proven track record of technology innovation and implementation.
• Creative and Award-Winning development and marketing teams

15 September 2009

In 2009, ODS2 was awarded the Deloitte Technology Fast 50, a pre-eminent technology award program. Each year, in selected countries this program ranks the 50 fastest-growing companies based on the percentage of revenue growth over a five-year period. TheTechnology Fast 50 award focuses on revenue growth and is a celebration of innovation and entrepreneurship.

In addition, ODS2 is a proud winner of the Deloitte Fast 500, a ranking that recognizes and profiles the top 500 companies, both public and private in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), based on revenue performance over the past five years.