24/7 Customer to expand operations

Third party BPO services provider 24ô7 Customer plans to expand its operations and tap new markets in the wake of rupee appreciating against the US dollar in the last seven months.

The company, which stands 14th in the Nasscom's 'Third Party ITES-BPO Rankings (2006-07)', derives 50 per cent of its revenue from the US. While UK contributes about 30 per cent of the revenue, Canada and Australia account for the remaining.

"At present, we have revenues coming from well-balanced geographies. However, we are concentrating more on Canada these days. The Canadian dollar has appreciated 20 per cent against the rupee in the last two years. That is an encouraging sign," said 24/7 Customer chief marketing officer V Bharathwaj.

The company expects its revenue contribution from Canada to increase in the coming years from the existing 10 per cent. "We service several clients, which have operations in Canada also. We see growth coming from these companies," he added.

24/7 Customer is active in the banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI) and telecommunications sector. "Australia is also emerging as another important market. We are focusing on the telecommunications sector in Australia for growth," he added.

The company, which is battling an attrition in the range of 35 per cent to 38 per cent, is also focusing on other geographies to expand its operations and minimise the impact of rupee appreciation. It recently opened a centre in Guatemala in Central America. It also operates in Philippines.

"These centres outside India now account for 25-30 per cent of the revenue. We want to increase this share in the coming years," Bharathwaj pointed out.

At present, the company services 30 clients with a headcount of 5,600. It expects to close the fiscal with a headcount of 6,500 of which 500 will be recruited in Guatemala.