WHILE the peso continues to gain strength, a new business process outsourcing (BPO) company expressed optimism about the industry as it opens a 20-seat operation in Mandaue City today with plans to expand in three months.
“I’m not very concerned about it,” said Live2Sell, Inc. chairman and CEO Chris C. Ducker, referring to the peso’s appreciation against the dollar.
He said that compared to huge contact centers operating in the country, being a minor player, Live2Sell Inc. operates with minimal overhead costs, which can allow the company to maximize on internal growth.
He said he is optimistic about the Philippine economy and confident that the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector will remain to be the country’s sunshine industry.
He said the company will do “fine” right now and expects to get back its initial investment of P2 million after six months of operation.
He also said that the company will prioritize growth within the year and enter stronger into 2009. He said the company plans to hire 10 more agents in three months to expand its operations to 30 seats.
Hire more
Ducker did not discount the possibility of adding more seats within the year as he and his partner have a very clear idea of what they want to achieve for their company.
“We want a stable working environment. We want to promote professionalism,” he said, stressing that his company will offer a high level of staff retention.
One of the major challenges that the BPO industry in the country is facing is the high turnover rate of personnel. But Ducker said he does not understand why people leave a good job if there are no management problems.
Live2Sell also maintains a high level of optimism with the presidential elections in the United States in November.
“Historically, with a new president, it is always a time when the US economy tends to do well,” he said.
Ducker said the company chose to set up operations in Cebu because the cost of operating a business here is lower than in Manila.
Talent pool
The company also found “a very good turnout of talents” in Cebu. “I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of people we hired,” Ducker said.
Ducker said Live2Sell is in Cebu for the long term and even plans to diversify its business.
At the moment, though, the company wants to focus on its niche, which is telesales.
Aside from offering big savings to US-based firms, Live2Sell is confident that it will be able to strengthen the sales force of its clients by 30- to 50-percent.
Ducker has 15 years of sales and telemarketing experience from various fields like publishing, contact centers and advertising. He trained Filipino telemarketers for other outbound contact centers before venturing into his first business venture with Cebuana wife, Ercille, Live2Sell’s director of operations.
The Duckers have partnered with Cebuano businessman Francisco Lim, who oversees the technical aspects of the company’s operations.
Live2Sell Inc., an outbound sales consultancy firm, will handle appointment setting, lead generation, cross and upselling and telemarketing for US-based companies. Its agents, considered business partners by the Duckers, are projected to make 1,500 calls after a full shift. (DME)
