Latest news with #Harton
Associated Press
a day ago
- Business
- Associated Press
Unity Communications Leads Future with Bold Shift to Hybrid AI BPO
Unity Communications enters a new chapter: a full transformation to hybrid BPO that effectively integrates automation, human talent, and AI in customer service. United States, August 11, 2025 -- Award-winning business process outsourcing (BPO) company Unity Communications has made its boldest move yet: a complete transition to a hybrid AI-integrated BPO provider —a first among midsize firms committed to leading and redefining the future of outsourcing. During a short town hall on July 16, livestreamed from the Harton office to Unity's global teams, Founder and CEO Patrick Brown shared a clear and forward-looking message: 'We're going to be positioning ourselves as a hybrid, or an AI-enabled BPO [company], and we're going to be serving a segment of the market that is very much in need of these services.' The Hybrid BPO Model Unity Communications's transformation moves beyond AI-enabled to fully AI-embedded. From day one, delivery teams in the Philippines and Mexico will work alongside intelligent systems to drive speed, precision, and consistency without losing the human empathy that defines the company's service. 'Our future is layered—AI, automation, and people working together,' Brown said. 'Our ability to grow and move forward will largely depend on how we bring together human talent, human emotion, connection with AI, and automation. For us, it's going to be hybrid.' To support this transformation, the BPO firm has launched a company-wide AI Certification Program led by its service delivery department. Employees will train in tools such as ChatGPT, develop prompt engineering skills, and apply automation to enhance their daily tasks. AI is now a core skill, and Unity Communications is leading the way at scale. Three-Phase AI Transformation Roadmap Unity Communications's evolution is structured, ambitious, and already underway: This roadmap sets the foundation for the company to lead the next era of BPO: intelligent, agile, and built for long-term growth. New Roles and Emerging Expertise With embedded automation into daily operations, Unity Communications creates new roles that define the future of BPO, such as: Meanwhile, each department has appointed an AI champion, a leader responsible for driving internal adoption, testing, and cross-team collaboration. Own the Market the Giants Missed While larger BPO providers focus on enterprise-scale deals, Unity Communications is purpose-built for the underserved one- to 20-seat market of fast-growing businesses that need automation but lack the in-house expertise to implement it. Unity Communications makes AI accessible by covering upfront development costs and using performance-based pricing to ensure value. 'We're agile, client-first, and built for speed,' the CEO said. 'We are positioned to lead this space. We don't need to replace revenue loss with AI. We're growing. We have the ability to rank as a top AI-augmented BPO [company].' Yes, transformation can feel uncertain, but Unity Communications is moving forward. With a culture of learning, support, and shared leadership, the BPO company encourages its employees to grow with the company and participate in this 'once-in-a-generation opportunity,' the next bold chapter in the BPO company's journey of continuous growth. About Unity Communications Unity Communications is an award-winning AI-powered BPO company that focuses on sales support, customer service, accounting, healthcare, and back-office services. With experience that spans multiple industries, such as e-commerce, technology, retail, financial technology (fintech), and software as a service (SaaS), the company specializes in creating processes that make business operations efficient. Founded by Patrick Brown in 2009, the company has evolved from a startup into an international hybrid BPO firm, serving businesses ranging from small and medium to Fortune 500 companies across the globe. Unity Communications forms co-innovation partnerships with clients looking to outsource for the first time and needing a 'white glove' experience. Contact Info: Name: Patrick Brown Email: Send Email Organization: Unity Communications Website: Release ID: 89166818 Should any errors, concerns, or inconsistencies arise from the content provided in this press release that require attention or if a press release needs to be taken down, we kindly request that you immediately contact us at [email protected] (it is important to note that this email is the authorized channel for such matters, sending multiple emails to multiple addresses does not necessarily help expedite your request). Our efficient team will be at your disposal for timely assistance within 8 hours – taking necessary measures to rectify identified issues or providing guidance on the removal process. We prioritize delivering accurate and reliable information.
Yahoo
24-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
UCB Q2 Deep Dive: Margin Expansion, Loan Growth, and Regional Strategy Shape Results
Regional banking company United Community Banks (NYSE:UCB) met Wall Street's revenue expectations in Q2 CY2025, with sales up 6.1% year on year to $260.2 million. Its non-GAAP profit of $0.66 per share was 7.4% above analysts' consensus estimates. Is now the time to buy UCB? Find out in our full research report (it's free). United Community Banks (UCB) Q2 CY2025 Highlights: Revenue: $260.2 million vs analyst estimates of $260.7 million (6.1% year-on-year growth, in line) Adjusted EPS: $0.66 vs analyst estimates of $0.61 (7.4% beat) Adjusted Operating Income: $106.3 million vs analyst estimates of $116.5 million (40.9% margin, 8.8% miss) Market Capitalization: $3.88 billion StockStory's Take United Community Banks delivered second quarter results that met Wall Street's revenue expectations and saw adjusted earnings per share come in above consensus. Management attributed the performance to a combination of net interest margin expansion and disciplined expense control. CEO Lynn Harton highlighted the stabilizing effect of lower deposit costs and resilient credit quality, noting, 'We continue to enjoy solid growth in earnings.' The integration of American National Bank and targeted loan growth contributed to steady operational performance, while ongoing improvement in nonperforming assets reflected a stable risk environment. Looking ahead, United Community Banks' strategy centers on expanding its commercial lending footprint, selective hiring, and continued optimization of deposit costs. Management pointed to robust loan pipelines, ongoing recruitment of experienced lenders, and potential margin improvement as key drivers for the remainder of the year. Harton acknowledged broader economic uncertainties, particularly regarding tariff effects and interest rates, but offered an optimistic outlook, stating, 'We feel very optimistic about our outlook for the rest of the year.' The bank also remains open to further M&A opportunities if valuations become favorable. Key Insights from Management's Remarks Management discussed the quarter's net interest margin gains, credit quality trends, and the impact of the American National Bank acquisition, providing additional context behind the company's operating performance. Net interest margin expansion: Margin increased 14 basis points from the previous quarter, driven by lower deposit costs and a greater proportion of assets in loans rather than securities. CFO Jefferson Harralson emphasized that further deposit repricing opportunities remain as certificates of deposit mature in coming quarters. Loan growth and hiring: Annualized loan growth reached 4.2%, supported by strong origination pipelines and targeted recruitment of commercial lenders across growth markets. President Rich Bradshaw noted that recent hires in Alabama and Northern Alabama, including a new state president and relationship managers, should contribute to continued momentum. American National Bank integration: The completed acquisition of American National Bank broadened United Community Banks' South Florida presence. Management described the integration as smooth and highlighted system conversions and branding as completed milestones, positioning the company for additional growth in the region. Stable credit quality: Net charge-offs and nonperforming assets remained low, with improvements reported in both categories. Chief Risk Officer Rob Edwards reported no significant negative shifts in criticized and classified assets and noted ongoing stress testing of the commercial real estate loan portfolio. Capital and balance sheet management: The company redeemed $100 million in senior notes to avoid a rate reset, repurchased $14 million of shares, and maintained high capital ratios. Management stated that excess capital allows for flexibility in pursuing organic growth, share buybacks, or future acquisitions depending on market conditions. Drivers of Future Performance United Community Banks expects future performance to be shaped by loan growth, margin management, and ongoing talent recruitment, while monitoring economic and regulatory developments. Loan growth and recruitment: Management expects loan growth to accelerate, supported by a robust pipeline and the hiring of experienced commercial lenders in both existing and new Southeast markets. Expansion into high-growth metropolitan areas is a priority, but management stressed that attracting top talent remains key to execution. Margin outlook and deposit costs: The bank anticipates further net interest margin expansion in the next quarter, mainly through continued reductions in deposit costs as higher-rate certificates mature. Harralson indicated that a mix shift toward loans and asset-sensitivity to potential rate cuts could also impact margins. Strategic flexibility and capital deployment: Management signaled openness to using excess capital for organic growth, select acquisitions, or additional share repurchases if market valuations warrant. However, M&A will remain disciplined, with a focus on institutions that fit United Community Banks' geographic and performance criteria. Catalysts in Upcoming Quarters Looking ahead, our team will closely monitor (1) whether United Community Banks' loan growth accelerates as expected in key Southeast markets, (2) the bank's ability to further reduce deposit costs and expand net interest margins, and (3) the impact of new lender hires and integration of American National Bank on both growth and operational efficiency. The trajectory of credit quality and capital deployment strategy will also be important markers. United Community Banks currently trades at $31.93, up from $31.29 just before the earnings. Is there an opportunity in the stock?See for yourself in our full research report (it's free). Our Favorite Stocks Right Now When Trump unveiled his aggressive tariff plan in April 2024, markets tanked as investors feared a full-blown trade war. But those who panicked and sold missed the subsequent rebound that's already erased most losses. 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