ATLANTA, April 21, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- GMT Corporation, a leader in Workforce Management for retail bank branches, contact centers, and back office operations, today announced that by using GMT Planet(c) workforce management software FirstMerit Bank has improved customer service and sales and increased efficiency generating over $2 million in savings in 2005.
"GMT's workforce management software solutions are a key part of our strategy to increase efficiency and improve service and sales in our branches and call center operations," said Larry A Shoff, Chief Technology Officer at FirstMerit. "We are off to a good start and in 2005 we achieved a strong return on investment with savings totaling over $2 million."
In 2004 FirstMerit started using GMT Planet workforce management software to provide optimum staffing levels for tellers and sales associates across FirstMerit's 160 branches. The result has been significant improvements in closed sales and customer service scores and a reduction in branch payroll expenses. Subsequently FirstMerit extended GMT Planet workforce management software to its call center and back office operations with a similar goal of improving service, sales and efficiency. In 2005 FirstMerit further improved operating performance by introducing an enterprise-wide pay-for-performance plan to motivate and reward employees.
"FirstMerit is a leader in operational excellence and customer intimacy and we are delighted to have made a contribution to improving sales and productivity," said Simon Angove, CEO of GMT Corporation. "This is an excellent example of how GMT is unique in delivering on the promise of enterprise-wide workforce management, from branches to call centers to back office operations."
Larry A. Shoff will discuss FirstMerit's successful workforce management program at BAI's SmartTactics(tm) Conference at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, NV, on Monday, April 24, 2006 at 3:00 PM. For more information or to schedule a personal meeting with GMT or FirstMerit at the event, visit www.gmt.com/SmartTactics.asp
About GMT Corporation
GMT's resource management solutions create competitive advantage by improving customer service and sales while decreasing an organization's payroll expenses. The company's product line combines precision forecasting and intelligent scheduling with powerful analytics and performance management tools to deliver a complete solution that is priced to deliver quick return on investment. GMT serves financial services and contact center customers worldwide, including ABN AMRO, Citibank, Nielsen Media, Pizza Hut, SunTrust, Time Warner Cable, UPS, Washington Mutual and Wells Fargo. The company is privately held with headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, and offices in the U.K., Australia, and India.
About FirstMerit
FirstMerit Corporation (Nasdaq:FMER) is a diversified financial services company headquartered in Akron, Ohio, with assets of $10.2 billion as of December 31, 2005 and 160 banking offices in 24 Ohio and Western Pennsylvania counties. FirstMerit provides a complete range of banking and other financial services to consumers and businesses through its core operations. Principal wholly-owned subsidiaries include: FirstMerit Bank, N.A., FirstMerit Mortgage Corporation, FirstMerit Title Agency, Ltd., FirstMerit Credit Life Insurance Company, and FirstMerit Community Development Corporation.