IT Group Project Chosen as Finalist for Outstanding Client Application of the Year

QUEZON CITY, PHILIPPINES, February 17, 2008. IT Group, Inc., an enabler and partner of business for service innovation, is pleased to announce that our entry for this year's e-Services Awards has been chosen as one of the finalists for the Outstanding Client Application of the Year.

The e-Services Awards is a country recognition of e-services excellence initiated in 2001 by the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM), the trade promotion arm of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), to raise awareness on the Philippine competitive advantage in e-services.

This awards initiative is designed to inspire ICT creativity and innovation, create benchmarking opportunities, and offer a marketing platform for ICT innovators and entrepreneurs in the Philippines and in Asia. The Awards is annually hosted by CITEM together with its partners during the e-Services Global Sourcing Conference and Exhibition-which this year was held at the SMX Convention Center in Manila last Feb 11-12, 2008.

The award provides companies and individuals a venue to display their technological skills, competencies and achievements, as well as provide finalists and winners with an opportunity for networking/business matching and exposure to potential investors and business partners.

IT Group's entry was a project it did for Metro Gas Corporation-the country's leading independent distributor of LPG products in Metro Manila and neighboring province of Rizal. The company consulted IT Group, Inc. to help them effectively use Information Technology to be able to compete and thrive in the cut-throat LPG distribution business.

"They wanted to differentiate themselves from their competitors," IT Group, Inc. VP of Business Development Jan Pabellon explains, "we came up with the IT solution tailored to their needs so they can manage their customers and deliver orders faster."

IT Group set up a contact center and developed a customized customer information system to manage the company's strategic Customer Relationship Management initiative. Through a hotline or thru their direct sales force, their customers-ranging from common households to micro-business enterprises and corporate customers-would be able to call in orders.

"Then, from the contact center, orders are relayed to their riders via radio dispatch system," Mr. Pabellon continues. "That will make sure fast delivery of goods to the areas covered by Metro Gas comprised of Marikina City, Rizal Marikina and Montalban, as well as some areas of Quezon City and Pasig. Later, this system was integrated with an Enterprise Resource Planning system also developed by IT Group to manage their back-office operations. This system dramatically improved the speed and volume which Metro Gas can handle effectively, as well as improve customer order handlding and speed of delivery-which ultimately improved customer loyalty."

After the successful set up of the contact center, IT Group had expanded Metro Gas' services with SMS hotlines provided by two of the country's mobile telecom giants, so that Metro Gas customers can order products and services thru SMS. A corporate website was also launched where Metro Gas's wide array of products and services were featured, and where customers can send their inquiries and comments as well.

For more information on Metro Gas Corporation, visit their website at http://www.metrogas.com.ph.

About IT Group, Inc.
IT Group, an enabler and partner of businesses in service innovation, is focused on solving the challenges faced by growing businesses through the synthesis of information, insight, talent and technology. Based in Manila, Philippines, IT Group's services include consulting, application development, systems deployment and integration, training, outsourcing, and managed services. We source, design, build, implement and manage IT-enabled solutions tailored to our client's specific needs. Visit our website at: http://www.itgroup.com.ph. For more information contact Mira Sagrado at +632.636 0576 and +632.439.5745 or send an email to mira.sagrado@itgroup.com.ph.