The UK Call Centre & Customer Management Expo is being held September 22-23, at Birmingham’s NEC. Here’s a preview:

Issues of offshoring and outsourcing are once again making headlines, with industry commentators suggesting that more companies are looking to outsource their marketing fulfilment and customer services in order to provide a more flexible, scalable solution.

The benefits of outsourcing a business function are obvious: the resources are scaleable; somebody else has the responsibility of finding and managing the agents, which in turn leads to a more cost effective solution.
It’s clear to see why outsourcing is once again becoming an increasingly popular business proposition.

What’s not so clear is whether companies which outsource run the risk of falling foul of compliance as their business crosses legislative borders. And, additional to this, what the risk is of damage to a company’s reputation should that happen.

Partner challenge
With so many complex considerations, it can be challenging to find an outsourced partner that meets one’s specific needs.

Call Centre & Customer Management Expo is planned to provide an ideal marketplace for organisations looking for outsourcing solutions within IT support, financial management, human  resources, web development  and call centre services. Leading suppliers at the free-to-attend exhibition, including Hello World Communications, Granby Marketing, Competence Call Centers and 60k International Contact Centres, will be demonstrating mailing and fulfilment services, outsourced contact centres, customer communications, IT solutions, data management, information solutions, as well as consultancy services.

Plus, visitors will have the chance to meet a number of representatives from countries such as Bangladesh, Botswana, Egypt, Germany, India and Germany promoting their outsourced solutions.

What’s more, the event – being held on September 22-23 at the NEC in Birmingham – offers a range of free features for visitors:

• Six visionary keynotes – a mix of revolutionary customer management as well as motivational thinking, to offer inspiration within even the tightest of budgets
• Just announced: Deborah Meaden, BBC Dragons’ Den investor and successful British entrepreneur, will provide latest insights into running a successful business
• Four dedicated Solutions Theatres, playing host to 20 minute product taster sessions: including the new Outsourcing, Siting and Location Theatre
• The Consultancy Clinic – a place for those needing a solution, not a system, to solve their business challenges
• Specialist Showfloor Zones – dedicated to incentives and motivations and learning and development
• Observe real homeworking agents in the ContractXChange Home Agent Showplace
• Make valuable industry contacts in the Connections Networking Bar
• Some 250 leading suppliers.

High-level conference
Running alongside the exhibition will be the high-level Call Centre Focus and Customer Strategy Conference, delivering cutting-edge content and big brand case studies from companies including Audi, Virgin Media, Bupa, RBS, Orange, Expedia and British Gas.

The 32 sessions and four masterclasses will allow delegates to hear how other organisations have overcome the same challenges and gone on to become the leading players of their respective fields.

Successful co-location
After the successful co-location with Service Management Expo in 2008, it has now become a permanent neighbour reflecting the importance of interaction of call centres and field service departments.

All of this means Call Centre & Customer Management Expo 2009 is a place for buyers and sellers to meet, making the event a well-spent day out of the office if you are embarking on or in the midst of an outsourcing project.

You can register now, free: www.callcentre-expo.com/dmi