Fusing Agents with Better Workflow and Processes

Jacada is a provider of unified desktop and process optimization solutions for customer service operations. The company's solutions, Jacada WorkSpace and Jacada Fusion, are designed to simplify, automate and optimize a call center's work processes across disparate business systems, eliminating inefficiencies and boosting productivity. I recently got a chance to catch up with the company by chatting with Jacada's CEO Paul O'Callaghan.

RT: So how was business in 2007?

PO'C: 2007 was a record year for Jacada. In terms of results, we achieved record revenues of $25.8 million for the year, in line with our annual guidance, and representing 25 percent growth over 2006. This growth was driven by a 57 percent increase in our call center business. On January 1, 2008, we sold our "Application Modernization," or legacy business, to Software AG for $26 million in cash. We are now entirely focused on our call center solutions business, which grew to a record $13.3 million from $8.5 million in the fiscal year 2006. Our cash position is now approximately $56 million.

From a new contract perspective, we had a very successful year. We signed new customer contracts in a number of different verticals, including telecommunications, public utility, financial and insurance services, retail, hospitality/gaming and government. We announced new contracts with O2 UK, Harrahs Entertainment, Station Casinos, Central Hudson Gas & Electric and Lillian Vernon. We also signed new contracts with other major customers we could not mention by name to include a major telecommunications provider in Canada, a premiere telecommunications provider in Eastern Europe, a significant contract with a major, brand name North American insurance company and another large North American public utility.

In 2007, we also signed reseller agreements with Avaya, Accenture and IBM Global Business Services. The partners are currently engaged in promoting our solutions and assisting us in...