- Initial Center to Add 250 Agents; Growth Anticipated to as Many as 750 -
AMERICAN FORK, Utah, Aug. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Sento Corporation
(Nasdaq: SNTO), a leading provider of integrated, multi-channel customer
support, today announced plans to launch the first of two new Spanish-speaking
call centers within the next several months. The initial center will have a
one-shift capacity of 250 agents; however, Sento estimates that total growing
to as many as two centers and a total of 750 agents by the end of next year.
Sento prefers to locate the first of its anticipated two new centers in
Salt Lake City, although it is also considering sites in Colorado, Arizona and
New Mexico. Key to the new initiative is that Sento is looking to hire agents
who speak Spanish as their primary language, as opposed to English-speaking
agents who offer bi-lingual support.
"This is a unique initiative, and to our knowledge this is, if not the
first, one of the first initiatives that a U.S. outsourcing company has
promoted to provide native Spanish-speaking agents from within the U.S. to
support their clients' Spanish-speaking U.S. customers," said Patrick O'Neal,
Sento's president and CEO. "Our goal is to provide a very high standard of
quality and customer satisfaction while creating U.S. jobs."
Market data indicates the Hispanic ethnic group currently represents
nearly $700 billion of buying power per year, and is projected to reach
$1 trillion by 2010. However, most U.S. companies offering products and
services are not yet addressing this growing marketplace well, O'Neal
maintains.
"Sixty percent of 40 million Latino customers in the U.S. say they
comprehend native Spanish-speaking representatives best," says O'Neal. "And
54 percent say they are loyal to marketers who support Hispanic communities."
In addition to the creation of at least 250 new Hispanic jobs at
competitive wages, Sento plans to offer tuition reimbursement of up to
$4,000 per year for full time employees and up to $1,750 tuition reimbursement
for part time workers. The company plans to offer onsite English as a Second
Language programs for employees and their families as well. Sento's goal is
to attract young upwardly mobile Hispanics looking to improve their place in
life.
"If we can help these young people achieve a higher standard of living
through education while employing them for 2-4 years, I think everyone comes
out a winner. Many will move on to other opportunities outside of Sento, and
many will take advantage of the career path within the company," O'Neal
opines.
Tony Yapias, Director, Utah State Office of Hispanic Affairs, applauds
this new initiative: "We find it very exciting for leading company in Utah to
want to tap into our Latino population this way. We intend to assist Sento in
every way we can in becoming successful, because the need for this type of
center is strong."
While O'Neal confirms that Sento would prefer to base the initial new
center in Utah if possible, he notes that the decision of where to base the
new center will be economically driven. However, Yapias points out several
uniquely positive aspects Utah's Latino community provides.
"Our Latino population is remarkably diverse, and perhaps much more
diverse than in other U.S. locations," Yapias maintains. "We have strong
Argentinean, Columbian, Venezuelan and Peruvian communities, in addition to
the Mexican communities. Even when companies are able to provide strong
bilingual support, the ability to know and support these specific cultures is
key."
Sento anticipates announcing the location and specific timeframe of the
first of the new Spanish call centers within the next 60 days.
ABOUT SENTO
Sento Corporation (http://www.sento.com) has emerged as a leading provider of
outsourced customer care and sales support services, managing customer
relationships for a growing number of high-profile companies across multiple
industries. Through Sento's Customer Choice Platform(TM), an integrated suite
of multi-channel CRM technologies, customers are given a choice of self-
service and assisted-service options -- via web, e-mail, chat, and phone --
for increased customer satisfaction with dramatic cost savings to Sento's
clients. Sento provides support in 17 languages.
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
Statements in this press release, which are not purely historical, are
forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements encompass Sento's beliefs,
expectations, hopes or intentions regarding future events. Words such as
"expects," "intends," "believes," "anticipates," "should" and "likely" also
identify forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements included
in this release are made as of the date hereof and are based on information
available to Sento as of such date. Sento assumes no obligation to update any
forward-looking statement. Actual results could differ materially from those
anticipated for a number of reasons, including, among others: the Company's
stock price has historically been volatile; variations in market and economic
conditions; the effect on the Company's earnings of the repricing of options;
the Company's dependence on its limited number of key clients; reduction in
services requested by the Company's clients resulting in lower revenues for
the Company; the Company's ability to complete negotiations and execute client
agreements; risk of emergency interruption of the Customer Contact Solutions
operations; and other unanticipated factors. Risk factors, cautionary
statements and other conditions, which could cause actual results to differ
from the Company's current expectations, are contained in the Company's
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's
Annual Report on Form 10-KSB.
SOURCE Sento Corporation
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Related links:
http://www.sento.com
CONTACT:
Cheryl Snapp, cheryl.snapp@sng.com, or David
Hill, david.hill@sng.com, both of Snapp Norris Group,
+1-801-226-3223, for Sento Corporation
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