How can companies maintain and keep in touch with customers all over Europe, provide services such as reservations (for hotels or airlines), "help desk" and technical support (for computers and OA equipment, software) or repair in an efficient and cost-effective way?

Recent developments in telecommunication in Europe have enabled the use of international toll-free numbers, so that companies can set up one central service centre for the whole European market. Customers calling the service station will not be able to distinguish in which European country that centre is located. In recent years such central service stations have been set up in large numbers by international companies and are popularly known as "call centres." Although some companies might prefer to have several call centres, centralization and consolidation of European call centres can result in greater cost savings, improved service and efficiencies.

The main benefits for companies to establish a centralised European service operation are:
concentration of knowledge and expertise and lower operational costs (economies of scale);
more efficient management of relationships with customers, dealers and prospects;
presence of the company in any country by a national telephone number, without being actually established in that country.

Crucial location conditions for "call-centers" are:
a multi-lingual workforce, and
an excellent telecommunications network.

The Dutch are among the people in Europe who speak the most foreign languages; on top of that, many native speakers of English, French, German and other European languages live in the Netherlands. This makes it the premier location for "call centers." International calls are connected to Dutch call center operators who are able to speak to the caller in the caller's own native language. Other reasons for the Dutch success attracting more than 110 pan-European call centres include the high quality of the Dutch telecom system and the competitive telecom tariffs.