Clear beats off Telecom, Optus and Telstra for big call centre contract

Friday 31st August 2001

By Christine Nikiel

Clear Communications has won a multimillion dollar call centre contract with Amway, the largest direct marketer in the US.

Clear beat rivals Telecom New Zealand, AAPT, Cable Wireless Optus and Telstra to win the $2.3 million contract .

The telco is rapidly expanding its call centre network, with almost $1 billion committed already, and a further $150 million to be invested this year.

The manager of Clear's enhanced sales and integration, Megan Martin, said "a number of announcements" would be coming up that would see Clear increasing its presence in Australia, and forming outsourcing partnerships.

As far as technology suppliers go, this country offered the same things as Australia, Ms Martin said.

"It might be a bit of an eye-opener for them to come down here and see."

New Zealand's lower pay rates and more flexible workforce was the main reason the country would be attractive to set up a call centre in, she said.

Clear has been involved in call centre operations since 1994 and has 3500 seats in call centres here.

French telco Alcatel will supply the call centre's Omnitouch system, which allows Amway to integrate all its call centres.

A call centre here was 25% cheaper to set up and run than Australia, Ms Martin.

The call centre, which is in East Tamaki, Auckland, has 60 agents and will expand to 200. It will service 80% of call traffic between Australia and New Zealand.

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