Virtual-Agent Services Opens Eighth Contact Center
Petitcodiac, New Brunswick Distributed Workforce Center Serves U.S.- based Customers
SCHAUMBURG, IL (May 12, 2003) – Virtual-Agent Services (VAS), provider of contact center services to a variety of industries including hospitality, retail sales, and roadside services, announced today the establishment of its eighth community-based customer contact center in Petitcodiac, New Brunswick, Canada. Nancy Strickland-Lewis, Vice President of Customer Service for VAS made the announcement with Petitcodiac Mayor Gary Armstrong.
VAS’ award winning business model, the Distributed Workforce Concept, focuses on contact centers located in rural communities throughout the province of New Brunswick. By locating small centers in areas with advanced technologies, VAS is able to network the locations together with a common telephone system and operate as one large virtual center. The targeted areas have another major advantage: untapped, high quality, work-ready labor markets. This creates a wonderful opportunity for those who live in areas with limited career prospects, as well as assuring VAS’ clients that they are receiving top quality service from experienced employees.
Mayor Armstrong, who helped attract the company to Petitcodiac, said he pursued the 30-40 jobs VAS generated because they are "a wonderful opportunity to do what we can to encourage growth. “Jobs are necessary for the development of any community,” he said, “[Because] jobs support other jobs and this call center will help all the downtown merchants as well as other businesses."
With eight centers now located around the province, Ms. Strickland-Lewis says the company is eager to continue with the company’s growth plan of 12 more locations to help diversify local economies. "Our model is to bring work to people, rather than have people travel to find work," she said.
Virtual-Agent Services, a privately held company headquartered in Schaumburg, IL, is a unique provider of contact center solutions for today’s demanding customer care industry. Focusing on a high quality workforce and ideal locations throughout New Brunswick, Canada, VAS utilizes the award-winning Distributed Workforce Concept to offer clients superior service and value. The company was recently recognized by Fast Company magazine as a “Fast 50 Innovator” and by ContactCenterWorld.com with a Members Choice Award for Best US Outsourcing. Servicing a wide range of industries including financial, retail sales, travel and hospitality, and utility services, VAS provides a variety of support options that include inbound sales and customer service, customer account maintenance, credit management, and travel reservations.
