Offshore telemarketing continues to be a growing resource for American businesses. While the practice of employing offshore telemarketers is controversial to many Americans, even more than the employment of foreign manufacturers; American businesses and corporations continue to find value in outsourcing foreign telemarketers. Offshore telemarketing is hot in locations with high rates of English speaking workers, such as India, Bangolore, the Philippines, and the more westernized Israel, all of whom woo United States businesses with their increasingly sophisticated workforce.
Advantage of Offshore Telemarketing
One clear advantage of offshore telemarketing is the pool of English speaking workers willing to work for lower rates. Even with long distance setup and logistics, overseas outsourcing is just cheaper. Offshore telemarketing companies can provide up to 50% in cost savings for operations.
Another advantage is increased production. India, for instance, with its strong technological infrastructure, is equipped to handle outbound and inbound calls every day, all year long. Its geographical location provides a convenient time zone with a difference of twelve hours. A job ordered late in the day in the United States can be processed immediately in India where it is the beginning of the day.
Disadvantage of Offshore Telemarketing
Sometimes Americans on the receiving end of a call from foreign telemarketers are put off by thick accents, cultural miscommunications, and telemarketing houses not in touch with businesses beyond the script. Such missing links and miscues can be troublesome for corporations trying to uphold a professional image. Still, global thinking businespeople maintain that the gaps are growing pains, and will inevitably smooth over as businesses converge and outsourced telemarketing businesses gain greater expertise.
India is the most popular offshore telemarketing location, having the largest educated, English speaking population in the world, that arecomputer literate. Banalore, India is one of the most technologically savvy destinations in the world. India's workforce is trained and continually reviews presentation, sales, and communication skills.
Israel, like India, is patronized by large multinational companies, including IBM, Microsoft, Compaq, Motorola, HP and Intel. Companies know they will find highly educated, native English speakers who share a cultural understanding of the West. While Israel's salaries are not as cheap as in countries like India, the cost to American businesses is still significantly less than in America.
The Philippines is another burgeoning locationfor outsourcing in offshore telemarketing, with its 90% English speaking ratio.
Offshore telemarketing is growing into a sophisticated industry that specialized in every kind of inbound and outbound transaction including direct sales, lead generation, appointment scheduling, verifying information, cleaning lists, research, surveys, and more.