• Investment World
• eWorld
• Catalyst
• Mentor
• Life
• Canvas
• Praxis
• Urban Pulse
• Brand Quest

Our Bureau

KOCHI, May 27

ASPINWALL and Co Ltd, one of the oldest companies in Kochi, has forayed into ITES by setting up a modern international business process outsourcing (BPO) centre in its premises at Calvetty near here.

The BPO centre known by name e MERGE has commenced its operations with a 48-seater call centre, which was inaugurated on Monday by the State Industries Minister, Mr P.K. Kunhalikutty. He said on the occasion that the Government was encouraging companies to establish BPO centres in the State.

The Government is also planning to train people in the call centre business so that more people get job opportunities in this industry.

He pointed out that the Government has initiated steps to develop Kochi as an IT hub since it has a good connectivity and a congenial living atmosphere. The State was making an attempt to regain some ground it had lost to others during the last few decades on the development front, he added.

The technology that backed the call centre is server-based found to be a robust and fail-proof system. A predictive dialler has been installed in the US to take care of effective client handling.

The connectivity is established and maintained through VSNL and Singtel Communications that ensure unhindered connectivity at all times. With Motorola MUX operating at both ends of the communication network, it is expected that client servicing would be a simple and efficient job.

Mr N.R.Pai, Chief Executive, Aspinwall group, said that the call centre could double its capacity in just a few weeks and reach its targeted number of 200 seats in just a few months time. In order to cope up with the exacting demands required for successful call centre personnel, the company had opened their own academy six months ago to give the necessary training to the customer service executives through their AA Plus Academy.

Aspinwall and Co Ltd, one of the oldest companies in the State, has varied business interests, which includes shipping, C&F, coffee curing and trading, coir manufacture and trading, rubber plantations and a variety of trading businesses spread across the coasts of India. It entered the tourism and hospitality business last year and has been able to carve a niche in this sector too, Mr Pai said.

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication

Stories in this Section
Aspinwall sets up BPO centre

Copyright © 2003, The Hindu Business Line. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu Business Line