AAPT to move Sydney call centre to the Philippines

 

Local centre to be shut down in October.

AAPT has announced plans to offshore its consumer call centre functions from Glebe, in Sydney's inner-west, to Manilla in the Philippines.

Staff were advised of the decision yesterday, in an internal e-mail stating that the Sydney call centre will be closed by October 31, 2010.

iTnews understands all "customer experience" staff were terminated yesterday. Further positions are expected to be phased out by October.

An AAPT spokesperson told iTnews' sister publication CRN that 80 staff are affected. "We'll do whatever we can [to place them] in different parts of the business."

The spokesperson said that the decision to offshore affects all only "Level 1 and 2" support functions. One third of AAPT's call centre resources remain in Australia, the spokesperson said.

"We have a large business solutions division and a large wholesale division and there a lot of call centre functions.

"Technical support and wholesale support functions are still located in Australia."

AAPT has been in the process of offshoring its call centre operations to Manila in the past two years. 

In April, Computerworld reported that AAPT had axed 20 Sydney staff in the Sydney Glebe call centre.

In the AAPT's May 27 Investor Day presentation, CEO Paul Broad said offshoring of consumer call centre functions would likely reduce call centre costs by $27 million by the 2011 Financial Year.


AAPT to move Sydney call centre to the Philippines
"@griswald The point we're trying to making is that these CCs lack basic ISP level support, predominantly required to tackle varied problems that are more often serious, important and more ..."
By scan06disk
 
 
 
Comments: 5
charispalmer
Jun 30, 2010 12:18 PM
Based on my experience most of the call centre comms are already being handled out of the Philippines. From what started as a great experience, I've watched AAPT's service deteriorate as a customer over a few years. I've been trying to get a service issue resolved with them recently. 3 weeks and several calls to Filipino contact centre staff and the problem remains unresolved. The call centre staff are having trouble understanding the problem. I understand some offshoring is necessary, but offshoring customer service has clearly resulted in a decline in service quality. I'm switching to iinet - as long as they keep customer servicing in Aus, I'll stay with them
DJ
Jun 30, 2010 3:22 PM
Well that's a great way to improve customer service - just outsource it.

Corporate organisations know how much Australians enjoy dealing with overseas call centres who have no idea.

Well done AAPT, you can expect the problem to go away.

You can also expect your customers to go away.
singo79
Jun 30, 2010 3:34 PM
This is why I am not through AAPT!

Go Internode all the way, however if they ever plan to "offshore" their call centre then I will leave them to.

A proper english speaking technician is worth every cent when experiencing technical difficulties.

Way to go AAPT, you have just earn't yourselves the title of just another internet shark!
griswald
Jun 30, 2010 8:34 PM
I wont be going near AAPT, wish I could say the same for Microsoft, When you read the Vista eula you find you have nearly a month in which to activate, install the service packs and that comes down to a lousy 3 days, something fishy there. I found activation the most stressful event yet, stressed to the point of ringing Microsoft $ALE$ where they employ people who can be clearly understood by all, wonder why?? anyway $ale$ hooked me through to someone who was able to help me, I don't claim this will work for everyone, but I was so desperate trying Barak Obama would have been my next move.
scan06disk
Jun 30, 2010 11:00 PM
@griswald

The point we're trying to making is that these CCs lack basic ISP level support, predominantly required to tackle varied problems that are more often serious, important and more complex to fix than say software, which even a monkey with a dummies guide could help you with...

I honestly don't care about outsourcing, as long as the person at the other end can solve my issue.

I don't condescend people, country, religion or any creature that walketh this planet; as long as my problem is fixed, I'll be one Happy Chappy ! :D

Hope this move favors AAPT, they're deep in debt as it is... !

Edited by scan06disk: 30/6/2010 11:01:06 PM
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