Is SA a competitive outsource and offshore market for call centres?

U

UglyKidJoe

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 3, 2006
Messages
243
Lets hope it is. Anything good for our economy is good for all of us, that's why Telkom must go
 
rwenzori

rwenzori

Honorary Master
Joined
Feb 17, 2006
Messages
12,360
morph1 said:
No.

Why setup in SA when you can setup in India?
Click to expand...

If you are talking into Europe, the time zones are much closer. Telkom offer incredibly good VOIP rates to callcentres calling overseas. Many countries have developed aversions to India - our "Indian" accents are much more understandable than real Indian ones to an English ear, and it is said that you can buy CDs of ( certainly ) British names, addresses, numbers for next to nothing on the streets in Indian cities ( data stolen from callcentres ).
 
C

Cara

Expert Member
Joined
Dec 3, 2004
Messages
2,082
rwenzori said:
If you are talking into Europe, the time zones are much closer. Telkom offer incredibly good VOIP rates to callcentres calling overseas. Many countries have developed aversions to India - our "Indian" accents are much more understandable than real Indian ones to an English ear, and it is said that you can buy CDs of ( certainly ) British names, addresses, numbers for next to nothing on the streets in Indian cities ( data stolen from callcentres ).
Click to expand...

Any idea what those rates are?
 
N

NameOfBeast

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 9, 2005
Messages
874
rwenzori said:
it is said that you can buy CDs of ( certainly ) British names, addresses, numbers for next to nothing on the streets in Indian cities ( data stolen from callcentres ).
Click to expand...

For what purpose? Direct marketing? Scamming?
 
rwenzori

rwenzori

Honorary Master
Joined
Feb 17, 2006
Messages
12,360
Cara said:
Any idea what those rates are?
Click to expand...

I believe there are various options in terms of foreign breakout, and the rate varies by volume. Using Telkom to break out, between US$0.05c and US$0.07c per minute depending on destination network last time I "just happened to see" a Telkom ICC invoice.
 
N

NameOfBeast

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 9, 2005
Messages
874
rwenzori said:
One of your biggest costs in telesales is the cost of data ( ie: names and numbers ).
Click to expand...

I suppose the data they are buying includes some stuff on previous purchases (Mr Smith hates his Microsoft mouse....) so you are not just cold calling --- otherwise the London Phone book would be even cheaper :)
 
rwenzori

rwenzori

Honorary Master
Joined
Feb 17, 2006
Messages
12,360
NameOfBeast said:
I suppose the data they are buying includes some stuff on previous purchases (Mr Smith hates his Microsoft mouse....) so you are not just cold calling --- otherwise the London Phone book would be even cheaper :)
Click to expand...

Well you've got me going now!

Firstly, and obviously the guy buying data off a street corner in India does not care about this, all legit telesales data for the UK has to be "washed" by the regulator Ofcom to remove numbers of people who have registered with them to "opt out" of telesales calls. The Ofcom maximum penalties are horrendous - thousands of pounds per offence. In SA there is no such thing ( other than the "self-regulating" of the Direct Marketing Association that you don't have to belong to ).

Secondly, calling anywhere from a phone book is fairly useless. Telesales products are aimed at definite target markets and you also need to know if a number worked recently - otherwise you waste vast amounts of money calling the wrong people.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top