Net curbs hamper Dell sales

Dell International Services, which announced plans to set up its fourth contact centre in India, sees the restriction on sales through internet as a major impediment in its product sales strategy in India.

"Dell cannot sell its computers and other products through its India website purely on account of restrictions placed on the retail sector. While people can shop on our international website, not allowing us to sell through our Indian website limits our strategy," said Rumi Malthotra, managing director, Dell International Services.

The company plans to ramp up its software development operations based out of Bangalore.

The global software development center is a strategic unit of Dell's Information Technology section and provides application planning, design, development and testing services for Dell's worldwide operations.

The company is scouting for a location in the northern and western India for its proposed centre having a capacity in the range of 3,000-6,000 seats.

The location is expected to make an announcement within a couple of months. Dell International is expected to have 10,000 employees in India by the end of 2005.

Attrition, a major concern for the BPO industry, continues to be a cause of concern for Dell. While the rate has fallen, it continues to be around 50 per cent. The company's Mohali contact centre which became operational in March has ramped up its employee numbers to about 1,000 employees as on date.

"We have recently signed an agreement with the Punjab government to expand programs on developing soft skills among college students," Malhotra said.

Dell would help design the course curriculum for the course. The Mohali centre only caters to US customers. Besides Mohali, the company has captive operations in Bangalore and Hyderabad.