018 directory assistance judged best in the world

For immediate release
20 September, 2006

018 directory assistance judged best in the world

New Zealand’s 018 directory assistance service has been judged the world’s best at a leading industry competition in England.

The 018 service, operated by SITEL New Zealand for Yellow Pages Group, won the award for Best International Directory Assistance Service Provider at the 2006 International Directory Enquiries Awards in Manchester, England.

Head of Marketing for Yellow Pages Group, Blair Glubb, says the 018 directory service has become a core product in the range of directory services Yellow Pages Group offers, and one which New Zealanders are increasingly relying on.

“We’ve seen 018 usage grow year on year, primarily driven by the increasing use of mobile phones by New Zealanders who need to find a phone number on the go.

“We’ve worked really hard with Sitel to ensure 018 offers excellence in all areas, from the quality and accuracy of the service for users, right through to ensuring Sitel’s team culture supports Yellow Pages Group brand values.”

Sitel New Zealand Director of Telecommunications, Brendan Mengel, said the award was recognition of the strong partnership developed by Sitel over eight years, initially with Telecom New Zealand and, more recently, with Yellow Pages Group.

“Yellow Pages Group promises its customers a top-class directory assistance service, and we are delighted to be able to deliver that.”

The awards are organised each year by 118 Tracker, a research company that specialises in monitoring and assessing Directory Assistance services offered around the world.

The Best International award is open to directory companies from all around the world. This award aims to find a world class service that is simply better than the rest. The Best International award is given to the directory assistance service provider from around the world who demonstrates best practice in their people management, service quality, training &development, use of technology, business processes and organisational culture. The award submission was a joint entry by Yellow Pages New Zealand and SITEL New Zealand.

SITEL New Zealand was also a finalist in two other categories: Best Training and Development Culture award and Agent of the Year. In 2005 SITEL New Zealand won Best International and Best Training and Development Culture.

ENDS

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