We have less than half the attrition in BPOs

Though the BPO industry is offering jobs to many, the attrition rate

witnessed in this particular industry is remarkably high and the reasons are not

unknown. However, CEO of Slash Support Shiva Ramani claims that his company

dabbles in an altogether different kind of outsourcing where the job content is

different though the profile is similar to any other BPO company. The result:

the company boasts of an attrition rate which is much lower than the average

industry norm. In an interview with Nisha Kurian of CyberMedia News, Ramani

explains what makes his company different:

What is your USP?



We are purely an advanced technology support solution provider. As far as

job content and the duration of transactions are concerned, we are unlike any

other call center or a BPO outfit.

Shiva RamaniÂ

There are in fact two divisions in the outsourcing business,

one where only low level of knowledge activity is involved. Secondly, where the

knowledge contents is very high. We define BPO as a process where customer

interaction is less. Besides the transaction period with a client might extend

to 45 minutes, which is unlike any call center or BPO where you are  bound

to finish the duration of the call at the earliest. Moreover, here we have only

inbound calls.

In Slash Support, we recruit people who are skilled in

technology.

The best part is that since technology keeps changing, we can

carry our technical engineers along with the technology growth.

This being a steady business and if you are passionate there

is specific growth career. Therefore, the attrition rate is very less here and

it is not just a stop gap career for whoever comes here.

Secondly, we are not mere cost cutting provider but we have

gone up the value chain to help as revenue generators to our customers.

On ramping up its operations in India:



We are catering to the technology providers. US technology providers have to

manage within the revenue they earn. I strongly believe that outsourcing is

going to happen even much more aggressively.

On future plans:



Currently, we have a workforce of 750 people. We are in the process of

hiring over 1,200 people for our global delivery center in Chennai over the next

six-12 months. Besides, we are going to set up a third facility in Chennai.

On prospective clients:



At this point of time I cannot disclose their names, though we are in talk

with them and hope to make their names public soon. But our top five clients

have combined revenue in excess of $85 billion a year. At this point of time we

are optimistic that we will lead the market in being the only leading advanced

technology support provider.

On inducting Fossil Corporation VP Mark Parker and iGate

CEO Phaneesh Murthy into the board:



We also have Rahul Bhasin of Barings India Investment Ltd in the board who

brings the finance for the business. Every business exists on how we sell it.

Murthy has been with us for the past two years and he is our intellectual

capital from the sales perspective. If we have 100% referencable client base, it

is because of Parker, who is successfully operating Fossil Corporation, a Nasdaq

listed fashion accessories firm whose brand portfolio include Fossils, Burberry

& Armani. Now these three people address the finance, sales and operations

of our company.

CyberMedia News