|
What has been the highlight of 2007 for the company and why?
2007 was a year of significant change for Sportingbet. Following our departure from the US market our focus turned to our European and Australian businesses. We undertook some very significant projects through 2007 to get the European business in a position to capitalise on the continued growth in these markets. Throughout 2007 we consolidated all our poker players onto one poker platform, moved all our customer services personnel to Dublin and moved many of our operational personnel from London to the Channel Islands.
What has been the worst moment of 2007 for the company and why?
Regulation continues to be the biggest burden each and every year. Everything we do has to be done with one eye on the regulatory position, which, as we all know can change at any moment. We have to maintain a great deal of flexibility.
What efforts does Sportingbet make to provide excellent customer service?
Customer service has been a big focus of ours over the last 12 months. We have transformed our thinking of CS from being a cost centre to being a major point of differentiation. We have consolidated all our CS staff in one operational centre in Dublin, which is now managed by experienced CS professionals with significant experience. Our CS function is now much more than answering calls from customers with problems. Their telephone skills are now being utilised for a variety of tasks from customer satisfaction surveys to outbound marketing calls.
How many staff does the company employ and where?
Nearly 400, located in the UK, Channel Islands, Ireland, Italy and Australia.
What do you have planned for 2008? What sort of year is it going to be?
We are very excited about 2008. The structural changes made during 2007 are now in place and beginning to impact the business. Our focus for the year is on the needs of our customers and this will be demonstrated with significant website enhancements which will make it much simpler and easier for our customers to use our services. We also have the impact of Euro 2008, which will maintain customers’ interest through the usually quieter months—the broad spread of our business across Europe will show little impact from England’s absence.
Simon Gregory, director of business development, Sportingbet
|
