I'd like some information and contact for low cost off-shore call
centres.  I understand India and South Africa are very cheep?  I'm
looking to place some out-bound canvassing business with one.  I do
not want any information on inbound centres as all my work is out
bound.  Ideally I'm looking for a trade association/government agency
and some commercial contacts?
Your assistance would be greatly appreciated.
Many thanks

JH.

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Request for Question Clarification by pafalafa-ga on 08 Oct 2003 15:10 PDT

Hello acer666-ga,

There are a number of services on that can assess your call center
needs, and put you in touch with call centers around the world who
would then compete to be your service provider.

Some of these services are internet-based, completely automated and
offered at no charge -- you just fill in a questionnaire regarding the
type of service you need, and you will then be contacted by call
centers who feel they can meet your needs.

Other services have more of a human touch, and will work with you
directly as a clearninghouse, putting you in touch with call centers
that can best meet your needs and act within your budget.  Some of
these services charge a fee.

I'd be glad to post information about these types of services as an
answer to your question, if that is what you're looking for.

As for your request for trade association/government agency contacts,
I wasn't quite certain what you needed there.  If you can clarify what
it is you need, that would be a help in providing you the best answer
possible.

Thanks.

pafalafa-ga

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Clarification of Question by acer666-ga on 17 Oct 2003 02:04 PDT

Pafalafa-ga

Thanks for your assistance so far.  I would prefer the human touch
enquiry services, I'm not a huge fan of the auto forms having
completed a couple and never heard any more!
Regards trade associations/government agencies, I'm looking here for a
worthy trusted independent entity that assists with this type of work.
 An outsource specialist may be better placed?
Thanks,
JH

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Request for Question Clarification by pafalafa-ga on 18 Oct 2003 14:51 PDT

Hello again acer666-ga,

One more request, if I may.  Have a look at the link below, and let me
know if this is the type of service you're interested in.  If it is, I
can certainly provide some additional contacts for you:

http://www.telesales.com/outsourcing.html

"There are hundreds of companies that offer some type of telemarketing
services. The key to a successful outcome is researching and selecting
the best company to work with and aggressively managing the
relationship. We provide expertise with all phases of this initiative"

---

Clarification of Question by acer666-ga on 21 Oct 2003 03:41 PDT

Hi

Not really, I want to go directly to the call centres, not use an
agent.  The site you have referred me to appears to be a "middle man",
I'm not keen on them.  If anything I would rather use a trade
association or similar who works for the industry as opposed to
themselves.

Please party on!

JH

Hi, Ace

One of my banks (HSBC) has call centres in India and they are superb:
the 'agents' are switched on and they all speak excellent English. I
understand that they are in Hyderabad (well that's how I spell it).

Dunno about the costings but a pal of mine can sort out a training
package.

Incidentally, staff turnover in some UK call centres is running at
300%.

Good luck.

Bryan

One of the best countries for cheap Call Centers can be found in the
Philippines. You might want to try our country as well.

http://www.filipinolinks.com/Business/Call_Centers/

Thanks!

Hi there
can check out following links too.
rgds

http://www.callcentral.biz/
Labor costs:
Wage and benefit cost to our labor are lower our off market Pakistan
than India, China, Philippines, Malaysia, Ireland, Caribbean and
Canada. We in have with us a team of High Caliber operators whose
average wage is less than US $ 2/hr, compared to US $ 3.50/hr in India
and US $ 7.5/hr in Canada.

Human Resources:
Immense untapped Human resources provides ideal ground for quality
CSR's. English is a compulsory subject in Pakistani schools and
Islamabad, the capital provides the most suitable location with over
12 major universities teaching courses like computer sciences, liberal
arts and engineering, high exposure to western media, culture and
dialect.

Affordable Real Estate:
With government initiative in establishing Software Technology Parks
in all major cites, setting up IT enabled services in Pakistan has
become very efficient. Rental in STP is less than US $ 0.45/sq.ft.
Whereby, the premises are connected with fiber optic, satellite link
and state of the art facilities.

Tax Free Investments:
All IT enabled services are tax-free until 2018
100% profit repatriation for overseas investors
35% foreign change allowance
0% sales tax, Income tax


http://www.touchstonebpo.com/
Touchstone Communications provides world-class offshore BPO solutions.
Our customized solutions include inbound & outbound telemarketing &
true business process outsourcing (BPO) that typically enhance or
replace in-house operations. Touchstone acts as a seamless extension
of our client's operations providing dramatic cost efficiencies &
measurable quality & performance improvements. Located in Islamabad,
Pakistan. Touchstone's affiliates are the leading supplier of Dell and
Cisco gear in South Asia through Lahore office. Provide Call Center
seat hosting & long distance services in the US to & from Pakistan
using VoIP with IPLC. 


www.pakistancallcenters.com

A plug for Ireland
==================

"Ireland is an ideal location for teleservices because of its highly
developed telecommunications infrastructure and its well educated
workforce. As a result, the country has become the leading European
location for teleservice centres servicing overseas markets. It is
estimated that 30% of new call centres locating in Europe come to
Ireland. Over 6,000 people are already employed in more than 50
Pan-European call centres. This dynamic sector is well ahead of target
to create over 10,000 jobs within the next two years" ...
from a speech by Mary Harney, The Irish deputy prime minister 
http://www.entemp.ie/press98/tele.htm

"In just four years Ireland has emerged as the undisputed leader in
the field of pan-European call centres. In that time over 60 companies
have chosen Ireland .... multilingual centres .... main functions
carried out by these centres are: sales, technical and customer
support for computer and system hardware and software, reservations
and customer care for airlines, hotels and other accommodation
services."
http://www.ida.ie/industry/teleservices_industry.asp

Why Ireland?

... a great phone system .... "Because Ireland upgraded its
telecommunications so late our technology is world class, our
engineers are among the best in the world." 
www.inmotionmagazine.com/giant.html
... taxes .... "From January 1 2003 a corporation tax rate of 12.5%
will apply to trading profits in all sectors, including manufacturing
and international services."      
http://www.ida.ie/industry/teleservices_why.asp
... a pleasant environment ... and Best Western like it!
http://www.ida.ie/industry/teleservices_what.asp
... and English is the native language.

Hello,
Certainly India is the best location. We have highest number of
English speaking population/good bandwidth/infrastructure/world class
training facilities.
You may contact us on info@saitechds.com.
Refer
www.saitechds.com