South Africa has won both the National Outsourcing Association (UK) and European Outsourcing Association, Offshoring Destination of the Year Awards for 2012 and 2013 making it the most desirable country to setup operations.
There are a number of companies in back office outsourcing and contact centres that are currently setting up shop in the Free State province. Bloemfontein is gradually becoming a hub for business process services including contact centres.
Opportunities exist in the following BPS value-chain activities:
– Back office outsourcing – internal business functions such as HR management, procurement, finance and accounting, data capturing and claims processing.
– Front office outsourcing – customer related interactive activities such as call centre and contact centre services.
Why Free State?
The Free State presents a number of advantages for organisations looking to setup business process services organisations.
Infrastructure
The Free State is fast becoming one of the leading South African provinces in business process services. As a result, there is already comprehensive infrastructure in place to make your operation’s setup a smooth one.
Cost
Combined with rapidly declining telecommunication costs, the South African government offers incentives for companies who employ (and up-skill) locals.
Skills
The Free State has a large talent pool for call centres. The province had the best-performing matric class in the country for 2013. The province also has the largest bursary scheme in South Africa sending students to universities, technical universities and further education training institutes. Some 400 students are being sent to study abroad in China and Turkey.
The government has further created a work-readiness programme called Monyetla preparing students for the working world.
Language and culture
There is a large talent pool of English speaking personnel. Coupled with a ‘neutral’ South African accent, the South African call-centre operator is equipped to offer a superior customer experience.
Free State’s services sector makes up 24% of the province’s economy. The city of Bloemfontein offers a superior quality of life with good schools, shopping malls, healthcare facilities and flight connections with Cape Town and Johannesburg.