Ultimate Software's Customer Services Wins Award For Excellence
Ultimate Software (NASDAQ:ULTI), a leading provider of Web-based payroll and workforce management solutions, announced today that the Service & Support Professionals Association (SSPA), the largest and most influential association for technology service and support professionals, has selected Ultimate Software as the winner of the SSPA STAR Award for Best Practices in Managing People category. The announcement was made yesterday during a luncheon and awards ceremony at the SSPA Conference in San Diego, California. Winners of STAR Awards in other categories include Cisco, HP Services, Quantum Corporation, and Symantec.
The SSPA STAR Awards recognize the most innovative best practices for customer service and support delivery. This Managing People category acknowledges those companies that demonstrate best practices that result in high employee satisfaction and low attrition rates, ultimately enhancing customer support services.
Ultimate Software has been committed to customer service excellence since the inception of the company and continually enhances its customer service and support practices based upon customer feedback. Most recently, Ultimate Software implemented a Passion for Perfection initiative with the objective to bring its already very successful customer service program to an even higher level. The program includes formal employee coaching, training for relationship building, accountability for customer support representatives, and a set of compensation rewards and recognition awards for top performers. In 2005, Ultimate Software's support organization experienced only 3% employee turnover, and the company had a customer retention rating of 97%.
"We believe that employees who are respected, empowered with the skills and technology to do their jobs, and rewarded for their achievements are going to provide the best possible service to our customers," said Jon Harris, senior vice president of services for Ultimate Software. "When people have a passion for perfection in the services they provide, it translates into happier customers, and that's our goal -- to have the happiest customers in the business."
"This STAR award validates the effectiveness of Ultimate Software's employee management practices in the customer support area and recognizes the connection between best practices in employee management and strong customer satisfaction," said Bill Rose, founder and executive director, SSPA.
About SSPA
The Service & Support Professionals Association (SSPA) is the leading advisory, community and education trade group for the global tech support industry. SSPA's core constituents are the executives and managers responsible for service and support operations, and overall customer relations, at the world's leading technology companies. SSPA provides (1) research and expert analysis of emerging business issues, (2) conferences, professional development, and other curricula promoting industry best practices, (3) rigorous certification and awards programs that identify and celebrate exceptional customer service, and (4) active advocacy in the business and IT press on issues important to service & support providers.
About Ultimate Software
Ultimate Software, a leading provider of Web-based payroll and workforce management solutions, markets award-winning UltiPro as licensed software, as a hosted application through Intersourcing, and as a co-branded offering to Business Service Providers (BSPs) under the "Powered by UltiPro" brand. Employing 540 professionals who are focused on developing the highest quality products and services, Ultimate Software was named the 2005 Payroll Provider of the Year by the Human Resources Outsourcing Association and listed among the 2005 Top 25 Best Medium-Sized Companies to Work for in America by the Great Place to Work Institute and the Society for Human Resource Management. Ultimate Software customers represent diverse industries and include such organizations as The Container Store, Elizabeth Arden, The Florida Marlins Baseball Team, The New York Yankees Baseball Team, Nintendo of America, Ruth's Chris Steak House, and SkyWest Airlines. More information on Ultimate Software's products and services can be found at www.ultimatesoftware.com.