Navigant Technologies' new joint venture

Navigant Technologies, a business outsourcing firm has announced a joint venture with Modern Digital Communications Inc. (MDC), one of Canada's leading Internet Telephony Service Provider (ITSP). The joint entity will be named as 'Navigant CallCentre' (NCC). It will function as a captive callcentre of Modern Digital Communications Inc. The operations of Navigant Technologies will continue to function and grow parallely. NCC will commence operations in July 2004 and will recruit around 300 people in the next two years to exclusively service MDC's customers based in Canada & USA. Navigant Technologies and Modern Digital Communications will share equity in NCC in the ratio of 49:51 respectively. Ankur Bhatia, CEO of Navigant Technologies will also be responsible for heading Navigant
CallCentre.

"This strategic partnership will allow us to leverage our expertise in B2B outsourcing by handling end to end CRM processes for MDC ranging from collections, inbound customers service, outbound sales to web support. We are positive that our unique blend of people, technology and focused approach will help us capitalise the opportunity in the fast emerging space of Internet telephony," says Ankur Bhatia, CEO, Navigant Technologies & Navigant CallCentre. "This is possibly the first time an outsourcing firm in India has engaged in such a relationship model where the client enjoys ownership right from day one.

This is opposite of the much in vogue 'B-O-T' (Build-operate & transfer) model of relationships.," adds Ankur Bhatia.

The initial investment earmarked for setting up NCC is 1 million USD and it would be focused on infrastructure development, training programs and quality assurance. The skill sets for professionals would encompass an in-depth technology knowledge, business strategy and quantitative analysis.