Cape Town, 06 Jul 2005
Cape Town call centre operator Digicall will run a pilot project for a UK-based company, focusing on the British office automation industry.
Datacall, which specialises in direct marketing campaigns for the office automation industry in the UK, has made Digicall its preferred South African supplier. The companies were put in touch through a business brokerage, Qualia, which has interests in both countries.
Qualia owner, Richard Holt, says there is a "natural" fit between the firms. He adds that the South African call centre industry has some advantages over its opposition in other countries.
Holt says this includes cultural affinity, common time zones and the fact that South Africans, unlike their foreign colleagues, see call centres as a career.
From SA, Digicall begins the process with a series of courtesy calls, using predictive dialling tools and taking advantage of low international call charges through the use of voice over Internet Protocol technology. The project will entail Digicall making 2 000 calls a month to current and former clients of a major UK equipment supplier.
"We update their contact details and make appointments for representatives to visit them," says Digicall`s Andre Geboers.
Holt says the form of the partnership between Digicall and Datacall is becoming increasingly common. "We have the UK company creating the new business and managing clients and projects, and the South Africans doing the practical fulfilment. It has great benefits for both parties."
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