BUSINESS SOLUTIONS: Innovation help companies reach the fast-moving Latin American market

Latin Trade, Sept, 2000

Throughout Latin America and the Caribbean, corporate executives are looking for effective business tools that provide greater efficiency, seamless applications, rapid communication and higher visibility in their target markets. In many cases this means harnessing the latest technology -- software, hardware, application services and telecommunications -- to gain an edge in this fast-moving marketplace. Other tools are designed to help an organization operate in the most effective manner or build the infrastructure needed to reach today's customers.

In the past year, business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) commerce have been growing rapidly in Latin America. But forecasters expect the growth curve to rise dramatically in the next five years. For instance, B2B e-commerce is expected to climb from US$160 million this year to approximately $8 billion in 2003. On the consumer side, Latin America's base of online users is projected to grow by 34% a year during that same time period, reaching 30 million in 2003.

These e-commerce trends have profound implications for global, regional and local companies doing business in Latin America, requiring new types of investments, business processes, logistics systems and marketing approaches. Here are some solutions for Latin America's rapidly evolving New Economy.

COMMTOUCH

An international leader in global messaging and integrated e-mail outsourcing services, Commtouch helps destination web sites, service providers and small to mid-size enterprises reach Latin America's fast-growing online audience.

"We've been providing web-based e-mail in the region since 1998 and now have 21 customers with 33 domain names," says Steve Sandler, director of sales, Commtouch Latin America in Miami. "The phrase 'Powered by Commtouch' has become synonymous with superior performance and highly scalable email solutions around the globe."

With more than 500 million e-mail boxes expected in Latin America by 2005, Commtouch see a huge opportunity for online business growth -- especially since its e-mail can be received by wireless devices common in the Latin market.

Commtouch e-mail solutions help clients like Yupi, Tutopia and Obsidiana boost traffic to their sites and offer new services to users. Commtouch also works with service providers and telecom companies to increase their functionalities, such as offering multiple domain names customizes services to individual end users.

"Although we are a global company, we work locally," adds Sandler. "We are opening an office in Latin America and evaluating other business partners for strategic relationships in the region."

Founded in 1991, Commtouch (NASDAQ: CTCH) customizes messaging solutions for more than 400 corporations, ASPs, ISPs, portals and online companies. For more information, visit www.commtouch.com.

CLADIRECT

CLAdirect is the leading provider of internetworking solutions for Latin America and the Caribbean. The company takes advantage of web-based technologies to effectively promote its know how and diligence across the region. Founded in 1997 to help develop the region's telecommunications infrastructure. CLAdirect focuses on state-of-the-art networking products and services.

"We are an internetworking solutions provider," says Andres Martinez, director of business development in Miami. "We provide the only high-end Internet infrastructure technology and the services required to optimize the technology: network design, consulting, configuration, monitoring and technical support."

Since 1997, CLAdirect has installed more than 50,000 remote access ports in the region that give access to 15% of the region's internet users.

CLAdirect has offices in Venezuela and Colombia and will open offices in Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico before yearend. Its list of clients includes leading Internet Service Providers (ISPs), e-commerce and Internet concerns, telcos, carriers, systems integrators and several Fortune 500 companies.

"They choose CLAdirect because of our expertise and experience," says Martinez. "They trust us. We only provide top-of-the-line technology and support it with manufacturer-certified engineers. We have our own communications lab where we test and use the same technology we sell to our customers. Our clients are on the forefront of growing Internet literacy and usage in the region."

With its unequaled market knowledge and reputation, CLAdirect is recognized by customers and manufacturers alike for its competitive pricing, pre and post-sale support, and its intricate knowledge of shipping and order fulfillment for the region. The bottom line: CLAdirect provides Latin America with a technology platform for the future. For more information, visit www.CLAdirect.com.

MACOLA

Working through a growing network of business partners, Macola offers cost-effective enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions to manufacturers and distribution companies throughout Latin America. "We offer a feature-rich product that delivers excellent value to the end user," says Andres Castrillon, general manager, Latin America/Caribbean. "Our mission is to offer an effective product using technologies in high demand in Latin America through our channel of business partners."