Discover how Garnier BBDO can earn an additional US$629,000 annually by increasing its billable hours to 82%.
Introduction
Since 1987, Garnier BBDO has been part of the prestigious global BBDO network (Batten, Batton, Durstine & Osborn).
The agency has distinguished itself as a pioneer in Latin America, becoming the first creative agency to celebrate 100 years of existence.
Additionally, it is one of the most recognized agencies in the region.
Garnier BBDO, headquartered in San José, Costa Rica, is more than an advertising agency; it is a creative company dedicated to generating ideas that influence culture.
Challenges Faced
One of the agency’s main challenges is improving profitability and operational efficiency by optimizing the management of billable and non-billable hours. Garnier BBDO sought solutions to enhance operational efficiency and manage its workload more effectively.
Solution Implemented with COR
Aiming to maintain its leadership and keep pioneering in innovation and creativity, the agency implemented COR to streamline its processes. COR’s adoption at Garnier BBDO—spearheaded by the agency’s CEO, Mauricio Garnier—has been pivotal.
The management tool has not only helped handle multiple projects simultaneously, track hours, and analyze profitability, but has also provided essential industry benchmarks for continuous comparison and improvement.
Results Achieved
Operational efficiency: Implementing COR enabled Garnier BBDO to achieve notable operational efficiency, with an average billable-hours rate of 77 % in 2023. However, this result falls below COR’s 82 % benchmark, revealing a opportunity to generate an additional US$629,000 per year. This gain could be realized by increasing billable hours—converting internal time into client-dedicated hours.
- Internal Hours Management
Garnier BBDO stands out for its structured approach to managing non-billable hours, meticulously recording data to spot improvement opportunities, reduce internal time, and maximize the agency’s profitability.
- Reduction of Reworks
The agency succeeded in reducing rework to an annual average of 17 %, outperforming COR’s 25 % benchmark.
- Work overload and team health
Garnier BBDO has succeeded in keeping its teams’ workloads at healthy levels by leveraging COR’s ability to visualize and adjust hour allocations and manage resources efficiently, thereby preventing employee burnout.
“We’ve been working very smoothly with their project-management software, and the data they provide is truly valuable—not just internal metrics, but also industry benchmarks that are excellent for comparison.”
Mauricio Garnier, CEO of Garnier BBDO.
Conclusion
Garnier BBDO continues to strengthen its market position thanks to its commitment to innovation and excellence. Its collaboration with COR has been pivotal in advancing automation and integrating business data analytics, resulting in higher profitability and greater client satisfaction.