ison xperiences targets 20% growth in its business volume…and the business environment in Egypt has improved, but!
isone xperiences aims to achieve 20% growth in its business volume in the Egyptian market by 2025 and complete ambitious expansion plans to spread geographically outside Cairo and provide more job opportunities for young people, according to Manoj Mudgal, its Chief Business Officer Egypt and Sub-saharan Africa.
In his interview with Ta3heed, Mudgal said that ison xperiences has made changes to its shareholder structure during the current year to attract new, more energetic and dynamic blood as part of its keenness to implement sustainability policies and apply green technology standards in the work environment.
He stressed that the business environment in Egypt has witnessed a significant improvement during the past period, but companies still need more transparency in financial policies to hedge against any economic fluctuations that may affect their activity.
What is ison xperiences’s plan to expand in the Egyptian market by 2025?
2024 witnessed a change in the shareholder structure of “ison xperiences”, in addition to changing the CEO of the global company within the framework of an internal restructuring policy and arranging priorities for the next phase to continue growth in the various fields in which it operates and the services related to it.
On the other hand, ison has a long history in the telecommunications sector and aims to focus on other promising sectors such as the banking sector and insurance services, especially since Egypt is one of the countries with the lowest insurance costs in the world, unlike South Africa.
The company’s fiscal year ends in March each year, and the company plans to open a new location in 6th of October City with 500 seats by the beginning of next year.
What is the average growth rate expected in the company’s business volume next year?
Up to 20%.
How did the ownership structure of “Ison xperiences” change?
By attracting new investors keen on applying sustainability standards and green technology concepts in the work environment, especially since they are more energetic and dynamic to obtain more quality certificates and standard specifications.
How has the business environment improved in Egypt, especially in the outsourcing services sector?
The business environment in Egypt is improving, but this development is not reflected in a national trend adopted by the state through teaching foreign languages in schools.
On the other hand, the company takes into consideration official holidays and vacations while setting annual targeted work plans.
For example, some companies allow their employees to work for 6 hours and get two additional hours (overtime) during the month of Ramadan.
This varies from one company to another, especially with the increase in demand for food.
What is missing in the business environment related to the outsourcing services industry in Egypt?
There are cities in India that are entirely dedicated to providing customer services, with no residential areas and strong infrastructure like Bangalore for example in IT solutions.
Financial policies must also be stable and there must be financial planning in advance, especially with the continuous change in the exchange rate, especially since the profit margin in the industry is very small, while employee salaries account for 80% of operating costs. Therefore, when the pound floats, companies are negatively affected and cannot make any adjustments to existing agreements with their customers.
Therefore, there must be transparency in financial transactions.
Is there a shortage of available populated areas to provide customer services in Cairo?
Most of the skills and languages that companies working in the field of cross-border outsourcing services need are available in Cairo, but expanding the service provision locally requires spreading outside the capital, especially since the competition to seize contracts with Egyptian entities does not exceed a few pounds, so we are betting on appointing the largest number of employees with a presence around transportation lines such as the subway.
However, there are other cities that should be visited quickly, such as the Delta and Canal cities, such as Mansoura and Ismailia, especially with the availability of a large number of qualified university graduates as well.
Why don’t outsourcing companies open centers in tourist areas such as Hurghada?
There are no universities, but it depends on the increase in the number of foreign clients from outside Egypt.
What is the impact of the problems of delayed customs clearance of technological devices?
Equipment prices have increased by 10% to 30%.
Is Egypt still attractive for outsourcing companies’ investments despite these economic challenges?
Yes, thanks to its large population, competitive cost and prime geographical location.
Has the company backed down from opening a center in the Sadat Technology park?
No, but ison xperiences is waiting for the client’s approval and the company has a strong enthusiasm to be outside Cairo as part of its social responsibility and commitment to the UN 2030 principles.
Why doesn’t ison xperiences cooperate with Al-Azhar University’s Mission City?
Al-Azhar is used in some languages, but when there are requests from clients, we always resort to the Faculty of Languages and Translation at Al-Azhar.
How many new employees will the company hire in 2024? What is the plan to increase them?
We currently have 3,500 employees working in 4 different locations to provide customer service, which are Korba, Two centers in Abbassia, and Assiut Technology park, and we plan to increase them by around 700 new employees during 2025.
ison xperiences has also appointed a full team in the UK to provide digital consultancy and attract new clients.
Has the company’s UK office achieved any tangible results in bringing in contracts?
Yes, especially since all studies indicated that expansion in Europe requires being close to its customers, and ison xperiences is betting on the facilities services sector to grow its business, so it recently acquired one of the private English entities specializing in facilities.