Outsourcing Contact Center or Call Center: What You Need to Know

Outsourcing customer contact has been a key factor in globalization, offering companies a cost-effective solution to improve the quality of their customer service. Whether you outsource a call center or choose a multichannel contact center, this strategy can strengthen your company’s core business and enhance customer satisfaction.
Why Outsource Customer Service?
More and more companies, from large multinationals to small and medium-sized enterprises, are choosing to outsource their customer service. This offers benefits such as:
1. High-Quality Customer Service
Specialized call centers invest in training and selecting their staff. Operators are well-trained to professionally handle customer interactions via phone, email, and other channels. This allows them to provide high-quality service almost immediately.
2. Cost Savings
Running an in-house call center involves high fixed costs. By outsourcing customer contact, you share these costs with other companies and benefit from economies of scale.
3. Flexibility and Scalability
Whether it’s a peak in incoming calls during a marketing campaign or growing business activities, external parties offer the flexibility to scale quickly.
4. Extended Operating Hours
With call centers in different time zones, you can serve customers outside regular office hours. 24/7 availability significantly increases customer satisfaction.
5. Access to Advanced Technology
Specialized call centers ensure they stay up-to-date. Outsourcing means access to the latest technologies and software, such as call routing, monitoring, and data analysis, without having to invest in expensive infrastructure yourself.
6. Temporary Service Testing
Want to launch a new product or service? External parties offer an ideal solution for temporary tests. Based on these experiences, you can further optimize your processes.
Third-Party Call Centers
A third-party call center is ideal for companies seeking flexibility. They offer services such as:
- Helpdesk and Customer Service: For technical support or general inquiries.
- Telesales and Outbound Calling: For reaching potential customers.
- Order Processing: For managing orders and customer requests.
Examples of Third-Party Call Centers
Here are some locations and companies offering third-party call center services:
- Turkey: ETB Group and Unamic/HCM serve clients like Bol.com and Samsung.
- South Africa: IBM and Lufthansa have call centers in Cape Town.
- Suriname: Unamic/HCM assists Wehkamp and Ziggo with their customer service.
- Morocco: Kontactel provides telemarketing services from Tangier.
Captive Call Center
Want to retain full control? Consider setting up a captive call center. This means opening your own call center in another country with your own staff. Many multinationals, such as Dell, have adopted this approach. They serve multiple language regions from a single center, such as in Casablanca.
How to Start Outsourcing?
When outsourcing customer contact, it’s important to:
- Choose the Right Partner: Look for a specialized party with experience in your sector.
- Set Clear KPIs: Monitor performance and customer satisfaction.
- Establish a Training Program: Ensure agents are familiar with your products and processes.
Conclusion
Whether you choose a third-party call center or a captive model, outsourcing provides a solution to save costs, increase customer satisfaction, and gain access to modern technologies. It’s no longer a strategy exclusive to multinationals; smaller businesses can also benefit from the advantages.
Contact our experts to discover how outsourcing can help your business grow and find the best solution tailored to your needs.
Frequently asked questions
A quick way to explore how everything works and what to expect.
Outsourcing a call center offers benefits such as cost savings, improved quality of customer service, and flexibility to scale during peaks in customer contact.
A call center handles only phone calls, while a contact center manages multiple channels such as email, chat, and social media.
Yes, outsourcing is also suitable for smaller businesses. It helps optimize resources and provides access to professional customer service at lower costs.
Look for experience, technology, scalability, and the partner’s reputation. A good track record is essential.
Costs vary based on call volume, desired services, and the call center’s location. Contact us for a customized quote.
Yes, many call centers offer multilingual support and can serve different language regions from a single location.
Call centers use advanced software such as IVR systems, call routing, real-time monitoring, and data analysis to optimize customer contact.