Depsa | BBR - Brochure

BEFORE & AFTER

Partners:

for housing in Guatemala

Written by, Mateo Rafael Tablado

Produced by, Jassen Pintado

Interviewee, Ă lvaro Obiols, CEO

DEPSA SETS

‘BEFORE’ AND ‘AFTER’

THE

FOR HOUSING CONSTRUCTION IN GUATEMALA

DEPSA

Different factors along with innovation combine to keep DEPSA thriving from its very beginnings, providing the company for the kind of leadership sustained from decision-making ecoming a home

Po r tal de San I sid ro I I I, developed by DE PSA, benefits from its vicinity with Ciudad Cayalá

owner in Latin America is a

were unavailable in Guatemala

significant achievement as a

and became instrumental for

material accomplishment in

timely completion of housing

the ongoing quest to provide

projects benefitting families in

stability and well-being. Within

four-digit quantities, earning

a quarter of a century, DEPSA

the company the “Golden Tikal”

became a fundamental player

first prize award from the FHA

for Guatemala in the housing

(Institute for the Promotion of

construction sector since day

Mortgage Insurance, the leading

one. All it took was their daring

Guatemalan housing authority)

approach completing large,

for five straight years.

demanding projects.

After parting ways with

Condado de las Fuentas boasts o v e r 1, 0 0 0 u n i t s b e t w e e n i t s first t wo phases. Phases III, IV and V will increase housing units fo r this development l o ca te d i n t h e Zo n a 18 area of Guatemala Cit y

4

September 2020

systems which at the time

“We stopped earning the award after the FHA decided

previous partners in 1994,

to give the prize to developers

engineer José Felipe Obiols

instead of construction

Del Cid considered housing

companies,” said engineer

as one of different divisions

Álvaro Obiols, CEO for DEPSA

in which DEPSA would take

since 2015. The younger Obiols

part in the local construction

leads DEPSA’s 2nd generation

sector. It didn’t take long

with support from the company

before Obiols had to travel

founders’ experience and

abroad to bring construction

achievements, resulting in

Construction

Biography

Álvaro Obiols, a m e c h a n i c a l e n g i n e e r, graduated from Rafael L a n d í v a r U n i ve r s i t y i n 2 012 .

He also earned an MBA from t h e U n i ve r s i t y o f Va l p a r a í s o and finished postgraduate s t u d i e s i n N e u r o m a r ke t i n g .

He joined DEPSA while still i n c o l l e g e i n 2 0 0 7. O b i o l s is the sixth son of nine of D E P S A f o u n d e r J o s é Fe l i p e O b i o l s D e l C i d . A l v a r o’s main area of interest is p e r s o n a l d eve l o p m e n t . H e’s up to date on this subject f o l l ow i n g p u b l i c a t i o n s a n d podcasts from authorities in this matter such as Anthony Robbins and Simon Sinek, among others.

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5

PRODUCTOS Y SERVICIOS CONFIABLES

With more than 12 years providing product for building industrial systems such as Release Agents and Plastic Separators more than 200 projects in Latin America, make GRUPO PRONISA your most reliable option, since we as manufacturers ensure quality, competitive price and supply.

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MOBILE (502) 5208-5076

Construction

Supplier Profile N u m b e r o f E m p l oye e s : 30 - 50 Ye a r E s t a b l i s h e d : Januar y 2005

DEPSA’s contribution to developers, banks and other brokers involved in the housing construction sector earning the accolades nowadays. Álvaro Obiols, a mechanical engineer, graduated from Rafael Landívar University.

He also earned an MBA from the University of Valparaíso and finished postgraduate

Industr y: Manufacturing

studies in Neuromarketing. The younger

Main Ser vices: Pl a s t i c a n d c h e m i c a l p r o d u c t s for construction, pharmaceutical packaging, cardboard corners and metal handles for pails

this subject leads him to keep up to date

R e c e n t P r oye c t s : We c u r r e n t l y h ave a p r e s e n c e in more than 30 projects of houses, buildings, wa r e h o u s e s , ove r p a s s e s a n d g r ay wo r k s , a m o n g w h i c h t h e f o l l ow i n g s t a n d o u t: F U E N T E S D E L VA L L E N O R T E , F U E N T E S D E L VA L L E D E SAN MIGUEL DUEÑAS, P O R TA L D E S A N I S I D R O Y A LTO S D E S A N N I C O L A S CEO: G i l b e r to L e ó n We b p a g e : w w w. p r o n i s a .c o m .g t

Obiols’ main focus is personal development; with authorities and professors within this subject matter. Obiols paved his way to the top of the company since he was a college student and became in charge of inventory, which led him to experience first-hand the day-to-day operations at every level, in order to become the company’s leader, able to face new challenges.

Both generations of DEPSA are aware that not everything is about accolades. The company has been through difficult times such as the 2008 global financial crisis, the recent COVID19 pandemic and a breach of trust situation in 2015 which brought grief to the company.

“This situation resulted in drastic changes within our organization, it was then that I took over. My father is still working in his specialty area and I’m in charge of w w w.the b os tonb r.com

7

DEPSA

DEPSA is in charge of drafting, design, and planning up to wo r k completion and finishings

administration and project execution,” Obiols expressed.

“WE ARE DEVOTED TO BUILD HOMES, A HOME IS THE SHELTER PROTECTING

INNOVATION: THE KEY TO SIGNIFICANT PROJECTS

The first project completed

FAMILIES, WHICH ARE SOCIETY’S

by DEPSA was Ribera del Río,

FUNDAMENTAL UNITS. THIS IS THE

which stands today as the

WAY IN WHICH SOCIETIES ARE BUILT” - Álvaro Obiols, CEO for DEPSA

in the city of Villa Canales, cornerstone and starting point of the company’s successful run along with Valle de la Mariposa, completed afterwards in Amatitlán. Both projects are considered Guatemala’s largest efforts in housing developments,

8

September 2020

Construction

boasting more than 2,600

per day after its personnel was

units each.

trained for this system, resulting

In the mid-1990s, housing

in being granted more projects

construction in Guatemala

whose demands, both quantity

was in transition from brick

and schedule-wise, became

to cast stone and concrete.

more feasible.

To s ca n a Ca m p e s t re is one of the latest devel opments completed by DE PSA fo r G r upo Campestre

Unit quantity and schedules demanded the company seek support and have top execs travel to the United States to bring formwork to Guatemala,

MUTUAL SUPPORT RELATIONSHIPS WITH PURVEYORS AND STRATEGIC PARTNERS

“We are the kind of company

done then with metal beams.

that looks after its suppliers.

This method brought DEPSA

They support you and you

competitive advantage, allowing

support them, this creates a

the company to rise one house

difference,� Obiols declared.

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“CONSTRUIMOS JUNTOS EL PAÍS DONDE QUEREMOS VIVIR”

www.cempro.com

Cementos Progreso, is a Guatemalan company that specializes in the production and distribution of cement, concrete, lime and comprehensive solutions for the construction industry.

Mixto Listo ready-mix concrete producer with more than 65 years of experience in the construction industry, offers all types of concrete to meet any requirement of contractors in Guatemala.

Construction

Supplier Profile

This way of conducting business has resulted in mutual growth, and during difficult times (either internal or globally speaking) the company has received support from purveyors such as Cementos

N u m b e r o f E m p l o ye e s : 450+ Ye a r E s t a b l i s h e d : 19 5 4

Progreso (CEMPRO), PRONISA, Proyectos Futuristas, Multigroup and Mexichem, among others, which have always supplied the necessary goods for DEPSA to a timely fulfillment of its commitments.

Industr y: Mix to Listo belongs to the Construction I n d u s t r y, s p e c i f i c a l l y t o t h e p r o d u c t i o n and distribution of ready-mix concrete.

Main Ser vices: Guatemalan company with more than 65 year s of experience in the production and distribution of ready-mix concrete, along with the ser vices associated with i t s p l a c e m e n t . We h a ve b e e n p r e s e n t i n the construction of the most impor tant infrastructure, building and housing projects i n t h e c o u n t r y, a s w e l l a s i n t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f t h o u s a n d s o f p r i v a t e p r o j e c t s . We h a ve m o r e t h a n 10 p r o d u c t i o n p l a n t s s t r a t e g i c a l l y distributed throughout the countr y to s e r ve a l l k i n d s o f c o n s t r u c t i o n p r o j e c t s .

R e c e n t P r o ye c t s : We t a ke p a r t i n t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f t h e m o s t r e l e v a n t p r o j e c t s i n t h e c o u n t r y, s u c h a s : Fu e n t e s d e l Va l l e N o r t e , A l t o s d e S a n Nicolรกs, Por tal San Isidro residential projects; infrastructure projects such as the Quetzal C o n t a i n e r Te r m i n a l a n d t h e n e w E m b a s s y o f the United States of America, among others.

EVOLVING TOWARD COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES FROM DESIGN TO FINISHES

Every project engaging DEPSA includes every aspect related with housing construction. For a long time the company recurred to subcontractors for wall finishes, flooring, doors, windows, plumbing and other specialties according to workload.

This changed from 2012 and on, when Obiols claimed each of these tasks as the company created its own finishes department. Centralizing this operation allows complete control on a project, avoiding any kind of shortage while depending upon third-parties and converting DEPSA into a fully-fledged

Unit Manager: A s t r i d Pe l l e c e r

operation covering drafting, design,

We b p a g e : w w w. m i x to l i s to.c o m

finishes, just about every single detail

planning, construction, completion and delivering turnkey projects. w w w.the b os tonb r.com

11

DESIGN TOWARDS PERFOMANCE

Full support on raw materiales characterization and mix design to achieve greater performance at lower cost on mortar and concrete Telephone +(502) 6676-5343 www.versaquim.com | gerencia@versaquim.com

Construction

L to R, Á lva ro O b io l s and José Felipe Obiols del Cid. The t wo generations leading DE PSA into becoming the recipient of multiple accolades, and al so to resu r face unscathed from hard times

“Developers seek for land, obtain

accounted for four-digits in units built,

permits, financing, investors and then

as Phase III is planned to be completed

engage into sales and marketing. They hire

after 280 units are ready; Phase IV (which

us to take charge of the project’s day to

will boast 400 units) has been granted to

day labors,” Obiols explained.

DEPSA also, as Phase V of the project (which was first conceived in 2007) is

RECENT PROJECTS

A number of projects involving DEPSA have been developed across different phases. The company currently works in Condado de las Fuentes, located in the Zona 18 area of Guatemala City.

The development’s two initial phases

currently being planned.

In Zona 16, Portal de San Isidro (an Hogares ISN development), contemporary Las Fuentes, has benefitted from the boom at Ciudad Cayalá, with its conceptual, elegant surroundings and luxury housing. w w w.the b os tonb r.com

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DEPSA

The mutual support relationship bet ween DEPSA and its suppl ie r s keeps eve r y p roject demand in stock , avoid i ng any stoppage befo re completion

The Portal Residencias phase has been completed and currently DEPSA is adding

DIGITAL RESOURCES BECOME HELPING HANDS

The current management at

finishing touches to the Portal

DEPSA makes the most out of

San Isidro III phase.

its embracing of technology at

Other projects have been

every level, starting with the

completed in the vicinities of

deployment of the SKO ERP

the highway to El Salvador,

software since taking over in

where Toscana Campestre and

2015. SKO is a customizable

Villa Campestre are located

program based in the O4B

(both Grupo Campestre

(Open for Business) software

developments). Both were built

developed in Costa Rica. SKO’s

with blocks, just like San Isidro,

advantage is its offering of local

keeping a balance between

technical support. The system

block and concrete construction. is based in the Oracle platform,

14

September 2020

fitting both management and construction operations in one single interface.

“We need an ERP system able to manage every resource in construction projects involving up to 300 persons,” Obiols expressed.

Other helpful resources for

“INVESTING IN THE FINISHES DEPARTMENT, THUS CENTRALIZING THIS PROCESS, ENABLES US TO IMPLEMENT OUR OWN CONTROLS REGARDING FUTURE GUIDELINES” - Álvaro Obiols, CEO for DEPSA

DEPSA’s operations include a giant Gantt chart and SCRUM

for years to complete all these

methodology when assigning

projects,” the executive director

materials and workforce.

explained.

“Technology eases all these procedures that we have used

DEFEATING THE PANDEMIC

The most serious worry

The size of some of the projects D E PSA i s i nvo lved i n have been bui lt acros s seve ra l yea r s in dif ferent phases, each of these is subject to a meticulous planning and execution procedures

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DEPSA

DEPSA considers its wo r k fo rce being its main ally 71 B r i n g i n g h u n d re d s of individuals into fo r mal employment is considered

by DEPSA as its most significant labor through the possibilities of the constr uction secto r

16

September 2020

brought by COVID19 among

experience in previous crisis

productive sectors as

situations became crucial, along

cases began to rise was the

with this generation’s drive

uncertainty about its impact

to push forward. Operations

extents. The first move by

never stopped completely

DEPSA was reducing salaries,

and DEPSA’s proper financial

except for workforce.

management was instrumental

“Beating this illness’ effects

to keep every project running.

has become a steeplechase,”

Other fundamental factor into

Obiols commented. Avoiding

keeping the company running

the destructive effects of this

was the possibility brought

pandemic the company’s

by current technology of

Construcción

working from home, allowing

management,” Obiols declared.

for management procedures to be performed remotely, as the finishes department prevented any stoppage derived from depending on third parties.

“Investing in the finishes

HUMAN RESOURCES: HEADING TOWARD FORMAL ECONOMY

DEPSA considers its workforce as the main ally in every commitment, and one of

department, thus centralizing

the main premises shared by the

this process, enables us to

company’s board is to lead each

implement our own controls

individual employee towards

regarding future guidelines in

formal economy.

physical distance and personnel

D E P S A’ S H isto r y

“Our business is based in

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DEPSA

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September 2020

Construcción

“THE CONSTRUCTION SECTOR CONTRIBUTES TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF URBAN AREAS. OUR FOCUS IS THE COMMITMENT WE HAVE OF IMPROVING OUR COUNTRY FROM WHAT IT WAS WHEN WE STARTED” - Álvaro Obiols, CEO for DEPSA

people earning a worthy living

this effort would lack access to

through stable employment

this opportunity.

enabling them to fulfill long term commitments such as being granted a credit to become homeowners. Housing construction is our platform to develop individuals,” Obiols stated.

BECOMING PART OF THE COMMUNITY

In every community hosting

LOOKING UP TO THE FUTURE

DEPSA is about to complete the Condado de las Fuentes project along with works in the San José Pinula, San Miguel Dueñas, Fuentes del Valle and Guatemala City’s Zona 18 areas.

But most of the company’s upcoming engagements will be vertical housing projects,

a project in which DEPSA

considering the rise in vehicle

is involved, the company

transit in urban areas in

endeavours to

Guatemala.

hire local workforce, thus

“The construction sector

establishing a link with the area’s is the most profitable one, it inhabitants.

The city of Iztapa, Escuintla,

contributes to the development of urban areas surrounding

benefitted from DEPSA building

Guatemala City. Our focus is

churches and a school, and also

the commitment we have of

by the company’s sponsorship

improving our country from what

of the latter by providing meals

it was when we started,” Obiols

for 150 students, which if not for

finalized. w w w.the b os tonb r.com

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