FrontRange wins 140 new US customers in year-end grand finale

More than 140 new US customers purchased HEAT helpdesk software from FrontRange Solutions last quarter, establishing the company as a truly global player in the supply of software for automating customer service support centres in small to mid-sized organisations.

In addition, in the past 6-8 months Billiton, Enterprise Connection, Old Mutual Bank, the Department of Home Affairs and the Industrial Development Corporation have all signed up with the local office of FrontRange.

Stuart Russell, managing director of FrontRange Solutions in South Africa, says: "We have seen spectacular wins in the US recently. Especially impressive are those we took away from enterprise-level competitors. Customers realise they do not need costly and complex service and support solutions to run a very efficient support centre. These 140-plus wins speak highly of our products."

Among FrontRange`s new customers are:

• Blue Diamond Growers in California. The almond producers will use HEAT for internal IT and external customer support.

• Grand Casinos in Mississippi, which implemented the software as a facilities maintenance logging and tracking tool.

• Panavision in California. The camera and filmmakers chose the package over that of a close competitor. Initially, it will be used for internal support purposes, and then be expanded to include field operations.

• Provider HealthNet Services in Michigan, which will use HEAT in five of its hospitals to increase customer satisfaction levels.

• Ricoh Silicon Valley in California, a new subsidiary of Ricoh. The package will be used for internal support. FrontRange beat a large enterprise player to this deal.

• Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians in Michigan, which purchased the software to support its casinos.

• Time Warner Telecom in Wisconsin. It will use HEAT for its internal support operations.

• US General Accounting Office in Virginia, which bought the package to support over 6 000 users.

Russell says most new customers cited ease of use, customisability, and value for money as the main reasons for choosing HEAT software over competitive products. "They also mentioned the high level of technical support offered by FrontRange Solutions as key to their buying decision."

According to an independent study, 98% of HEAT users would recommend the product to a peer, adds Russell.

Headquartered in Colorado Springs, USA, FrontRange Solutions has international offices in the UK, France, Germany, Italy, South Africa, and Australia.