JUAN FRANCISCO FLORES
Telefónica is the knight in shining armor for those looking to digitalize their business in Ecuador, with over USD150 million invested annually in network growth and digital services for companies.
BIOGRAPHY
With more than 15 years of experience in the corporate and SME segments, Juan Francisco Flores is the Corporate Manager of Telefónica in Ecuador. He is an expert in the development of corporate digital transformation and telecommunications. He holds an MBA, a master's in business telecom, and has been involved in training programs for digital products. He has contributed to developing smart digital solutions for the biggest companies in the country.
How is Telefónica's presence in Ecuador expanding in support of the digitalization of the country's economy?
Telefónica has bet on Ecuador, and as a result, we continue to make investments of about USD150 million annually in network growth and digital services development. Based on our experience in several countries, we show the local business community how to be cost efficienct and improve their profitability and productivity through our digital services. In this regard, we have diversified our portfolio by moving from being just a telecoms provider to an enabler of digitalization in Ecuador. Companies are looking for ways to be more cost and expense effective and seeking to invest more in capital expenditures instead of operating expenses. In this scenario, Teléfonica, for example, offers its digital portfolio through monthly payments. We divide this portfolio into five verticals addressed at satisfying specific corporate needs such as security and information, cloud services, IoT, digital advertising, and information from heat maps.
How are Telefónica's digital solutions used to support the development of Ecuador's strategic sectors?
Our solutions can be applied across all sectors of the economy. In the agricultural sector, Ecuador's biggest exporting sector after oil, we bring solutions to the local market for livestock control to help track the location of animals and even determine if an animal leaves a virtual fence via radio-frequency identification (RFID). We have also started to use heat maps to determine the best locations for cashiers, new stores, POS, and even metro stations. Telefónica is proud to have worked in Quito's metro network project to help the municipality decide the most optimal locations. These tools allow one to decide how to transform digitally. On top of that, Teléfonica's location, EcoPark, is an extraordinary example of what can be achieved through digitalization. The entire complex is digitally monitored, and we have walked hand in hand with most of the companies or entities with locations in Ecuador such as Produbanco, Nestlé, Avianca, the UN, and Chubb to help them embrace the digital era.
How will expenditure on IT evolve in the short term from both a public and private perspective?
Corporations are quick to see the need of digitizing in order for their operations and services to be competitive. In the public arena, the opportunity in the government to digitalize is immense. We have worked with the public administration at different levels on several projects, one of them being Quito's metro network. Tourism is also a strategic sector for Ecuador, and we are working with the Ministry of Tourism to take advantage of tourism-related big data. We are gathering data on how many foreigners enter Ecuador, where they go, how they move, and where they stay, which are all useful not only for the Ministry of Tourism to determine its policies, but for all stakeholders in the sector. Our services are also being used by the national transit agencies to track mobility trends, which is useful in the area of road deployment or traffic management. The country's administration is moving toward an e-administration or e-government, though the pace should be quicker in order to catch up with international and regional trends. Nevertheless, the advantage of Ecuador is that it has similar characteristics to countries that develop rapidly, and its relatively small size makes it manageable and easy to roll out solutions.
JUAN FRANCISCO FLORES
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Interview
Felipe Ribadeneira Molestina, President of the Board of Directors, Ecuadorian Federation of Exporters (FEDEXPOR)
FEDEXPOR is directing the government to sign new trade agreements, reduce bureaucratic red tape, and implement a host of other measures to increase Ecuador's competitiveness in the global market.
read articleInterview
Walter Spurrier, President, Grupo Spurrier
For decades, Grupo Spurrier has been providing key data and insights to international companies interested in Ecuador. With mining activity picking up pace again, the company is set to play a bigger role in the country's economic development.
read articleInterview
Fernando L. Benalcázar, Vice Minister of Mines, Ministry of Energy and Non-renewable Natural Resources
TBY talks to Fernando L. Benalcázar, Vice Minister of Mines, Ministry of Energy and Non-renewable Natural Resources, on developments in the sector, expectations for 2020, and the potential of Ecuador's economy.
read articleInterview
Agustín Albán, Secretary, Higher Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation (SENESCYT)
Through a holistic education policy, SENESCYT is working on establishing international alliances, creating online learning programs, and increasing the amount of R&D activities in Ecuador's universities.
read articleInterview
Raúl Villacrés Vanegas, Executive Director, Ecuadorian Association of Banana Exporters (AEBE)
Representing 70% of Ecuador's banana exports, AEBE has worked hand in hand with the state to support the circulation of better agricultural, social, and environmental practices in the sector.
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