Page 75 - SAMENA Trends - April-May 2021
P. 75

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES  SAMENA TRENDS

        Whitepaper Highlights Bahrain’s Role in Global BPO Growth


        UK-based consultancy,  Ryan  Strategy Advisory, has  unveiled   growing needs. The country is also among the most affordable
        a  whitepaper prepared for Bahrain-based  business  process   offshore locations within the Gulf region for performing contact
        outsourcing  (BPO) company, Silah Gulf, presenting  the role of   center work. It is estimated by providers on the ground that the
        the Kingdom in driving growth of global BPOs. Titled, ‘Leveraging   price / agent / hour equates to roughly $12.50 for customer care.
        Bahrain  for Customer Experience Excellence,’  the whitepaper   Bahrain  provides  the right balance of value and  innovation  to
        highlights the strengths of  Bahrain  as  a  regional player  with   enterprises from around the world that are looking for the next
        strong links to GCC countries and the attractive propositions the   country of choice for delivery of contact center services. “Customer
        country offers for global clients. Peter Ryan, Founder and Principal   experience management has changed significantly since the past
        Analyst of Ryan Strategy Advisory  said: “Customer  experience   year, and it is likely to continue its ongoing shift. It is in this spirit
        management  faces  significant  challenges  that  impact  end-  that leading Bahrain customer experience management provider
        user interaction and empowers agents, especially while dealing   Silah Gulf comes to the market with an offering that reflects the
        with the challenges of Covid19.  Many  enterprises  are actively   needs of enterprises in the GCC and wider world,” Ryan added.
        exploring new delivery points looking beyond their own backyard   “The reality of customer experience delivery going forward is one
        and considering locations that have the capacity to provide talent   that favors providers that are willing to differentiate their offerings.
        that is willing to address the needs of end-users in an efficient   No longer are enterprises likely to work with generic, run-of-the-
        and enthusiastic way.  “Bahrain  offers the perfect platform for   mill outsourcers that are focused on large volumes of interactions
        strengthening  customer  experience  excellence,  building  on its   done  as  cheaply  as  possible. Rather, the future favours those
        reputation as  a  country  that  has  adopted  new approaches to   that are prepared to offer front-line service excellence, alongside
        customer  experience  and geographic  delivery.” Feras Ahmed,   value-add process and technology offerings. “If there is one facet
        Chief Executive Officer of Silah Gulf added: “We commissioned this   of contact center service delivery that is more apparent than ever,
        in-depth study to validate the competitive strengths of Bahrain’s   it is that enterprises are looking for providers that have capacity in
        BPO industry and the value-add the nation offers in supporting   non-traditional locations. Currently, Bahrain is emerging as one of
        organizations to promote customer service excellence. “With the   the countries to watch for nearshore contact center delivery within
        pandemic changing the way organizations work, it is important   the GCC and in targeted Western European locations. “In fact, the
        that customer service is prioritized even more, and a strong BPO   most recent Ryan Strategic Advisory Front Office BPO Omnibus
        support can help them achieve this seamlessly. In this, Bahrain’s   Survey, published in 2021 indicates that out of over 50 different
        location and heritage in BPO operations serve as a strong value   offshore and nearshore locations, Bahrain is a top 10 choice for
        proposition,  offering organizations cost-effective solutions to   enterprise contact center executives in both the UK and Australia.
        strengthen customer service standards.” The white paper outlines   That Bahrain is on the short-list of delivery destinations in two of
        how Bahrain has emerged as one of the countries to watch for in   the most sophisticated demand markets points to an increasing
        nearshore contact center delivery within the GCC and in targeted   awareness of what Bahrain can bring to the CX table,” he noted. –
        Western  European locations. “The country  provides the right
        balance of value and innovation to enterprises from around the
        world that are searching for the next country of choice for delivery
        of contact center services. Factors such as  easy  accessibility,
        diversity of population,  multilingualism and affordable  cost
        structure along with a relatively youthful age demographic make
        it a feasible option,” the white paper said.  The key factors that
        define Bahrain’s strengths as a BPO destination, which includes
        ease  of  accessibility,  with  the  significant  expansion  of  the
        international airport providing travelers with direct flights to-and-
        from most major cities in the region. The diversity of the country’s
        demographic, with expats from various parts of Asia, Europe and
        the US, and the direct benefit of diversity on contact center delivery
        - its impact on the number of languages on the ground in Bahrain
        - also allows for greater efficiencies by centralizing multilingual
        needs in one hub. With nearly one-third of the population under the
        age of 25, the nation ensures a talent pool large enough to satisfy



        Nokia Deploys 5G for Etisalat


        Nokia  has  announced  the deployment of   have been working together for some time   its  first  5G  services  for  handset  users  in
        its AirScale 5G solution for Etisalat in the   to provide 5G coverage  across the main   May 2019.
        United Arab Emirates (UAE). The two firms   urban areas of the UAE. Etisalat launched
                                                                                                    75  APRIL-MAY 2021
   70   71   72   73   74   75   76   77   78   79   80