Columbia Credit, Inc. Success Story
Ajility in development
team took into account both factors,
In 2011, president of Columbia Credits,
needs, while retaining the foresight for
Inc. Steve Gillette was asked by Columbia Ultimate to be part of a client team to “early adopt” and offer critical, real world
It cannot be overstated how Columbia Ultimate has gone over and above in most ways that can be expected from a business partner. They sell themselves first and they stand up to what they say. – Steve Gillette , President, Columbia Credits Inc.
insights into the development of the
taking care of the existing customers’ the product’s marketability with the addition of different features.”
accepted the offer, and his feedback
Ajility delivers results right away
contributed significantly to the company’s
It wasn’t long into Ajility’s development
company’s newest solution, Ajility. Gillette
current release. “When we first came on there were several areas we identified for improvement and the Ajility team immediately recognized the issues and made the proper changes to correct them. They moved heaven and earth to align the product more to the real world collections atmosphere,” said Gillette. The development of Ajility proved to be a twoway learning process. Gillette continued, “I learned there are two essential things needed for development to proceed. First there has to be a strong need, but there also has to be marketability. The Ajility
before Columbia Credits was able to realize significant improvement in their collections needs. “With our past software, consumers were attached to an account. It was difficult to reflect a balance for a particular person as they were tied up with consumers that may or may not have had responsibility for a given account,” said Gillette. “Ajility allows the flexibility to show the proper responsibility for a particular consumer regardless of what their connection is with other accounts. So when a collector is talking to a consumer, they’re talking to
Find out how Aility can help you can drive better results – talk to your Columbia Ultimate Client Relations Executive today at 800.488.4420.
The entire package is different than anything I’ve ever seen on the market before. One of the most innovative things about Ajility is the ability to follow a customer with a complete balance that is only that customer’s balance.
– Steve Gillette , President, Columbia Credits, Inc.
them about the true and accurate balance
customer—versus having an account and
they owe,” he explained.
having all of the responsibilities under
“The legal package Ajility offers has been another great help,” Gillette continued. “Legal has always been a main stay in my office with about 40 percent of our account activity derived from it. Ajility allows us to properly set up an account and use the system itself to create our forms, both to our attorney and to the small claims system. It also offers us the ability to see easily the particular dollar amounts that are owed for costs, attorney fees, etc. It’s much more flexible and much more precise,” he concluded.
(800) 488-4420 4400 NE 77th Avenue, Suite 100. Vancouver, WA 98662 www.columbiaultimate.com © 2013 Columbia Ultimate. All Rights Reserved.
to what has been previously on the market. It makes it much easier to avoid violations with the FDCPA (Fair Debt Collection Practices Act) and it makes it much clearer to the collectors exactly what they’re supposed to be collecting and who they should be collecting it from,” said Gillette.
No regrets After more than two years working with the Ajility development team, Gillette has no regrets about the process. “It cannot
Ajility’s innovations make it stand apart
be overstated how Columbia Ultimate
Ajility is an innovative product, which
partner. They sell themselves first and
did not go unnoticed by Gillette. “The
they stand up to what they say,” said
entire package is different than anything
Gillette. “Columbia Ultimate looks at
I’ve ever seen on the market before.
the long picture and sees suggestions
One of the most innovative things
not as complaints but as opportunities.
about Ajility is the ability to follow a
They work toward addressing those
customer with a complete balance that
opportunities. They’ve been wonderful
is only that customer’s balance. The
to work with throughout the process,”
concept of having a customer and their
he concluded.
account responsibilities under just that
For more information on Columbia Ultimate’s complete line of collection solutions, contact us at
[email protected] that account—is a complete divergence
has gone over and above in most ways that can be expected from a business