Electrical retailer AO shifts UK call centre roles to South Africa (opens original article in a new tab)

AO World is moving 200 UK call centre roles to South Africa amid rising labour costs, while reporting significant profit growth and exploring automation.

• AO World is outsourcing 200 UK call centre roles to South Africa due to rising labour costs
• The company reported a 145% increase in pre-tax profits to £50.5m and distributed £20m to shareholders
• AO expects annual savings of £4m from the shift and is testing robotics in warehousing operations
• Youth unemployment in the UK is rising, with concerns about technology replacing entry-level jobs