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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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
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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,
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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,
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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
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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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