Contact Center Outsourcing
Match your brand with vetted providers for phone, email, chat, social engagement, customer care, technical help desk, and scalable ecommerce support across onshore, nearshore, offshore, or hybrid models.
Retail and ecommerce brands need fast, knowledgeable responses across every customer touchpoint. The Connected Hive helps you source the right answering service and contact center partners for calls, email, chat, social media, order support, and peak-season surges—so shoppers get timely help, your team stays focused, and customer experience scales without building everything in-house.

Strategic contact center sourcing, outsourcing, technology, and CX guidance for retail and ecommerce support operations.
Match your brand with vetted providers for phone, email, chat, social engagement, customer care, technical help desk, and scalable ecommerce support across onshore, nearshore, offshore, or hybrid models.
Get expert help assessing requirements, building vendor questions, reviewing RFI or RFP responses, auditing options, and selecting a contact center partner aligned with your brand and growth goals.
Choose domestic contact center support when cultural alignment, time-zone convenience, sensitive customer conversations, or closer operational collaboration are important to your retail customer experience.
Balance cost efficiency with proximity through nearshore support options that can provide responsive staffing, compatible schedules, and strong communication for growing ecommerce customer service programs.
Access global talent and potential operational savings through offshore contact center models, often useful for high-volume ecommerce inquiries, extended coverage, and cost-conscious support strategies.
Evaluate AI, chatbots, IVR, workforce management, CCaaS, and automation tools that can improve response times, reduce engagement costs, and support modern ecommerce customer journeys.

The Connected Hive starts by learning your ecommerce model, support channels, order volume, peak periods, internal systems, brand voice, and current pain points. This creates a clear operational picture before any partner recommendations are made.
Experience informed by complex customer operations for leading healthcare, financial, government, and enterprise organizations.
Get strategic guidance before committing to an ecommerce answering service provider.
Tim Austrums brings 20+ years of executive BPO and contact center experience.
Access an extensive network of vetted providers across onshore, nearshore, offshore, and hybrid models.
Outsourcing guidance helps buyers pursue 20–30% savings versus maintaining in-house teams.
Knowledge of PCI and HIPAA considerations supports secure, compliant customer interaction planning.
Expert guidance from an experienced contact center strategist.

Founder and CEO
Tim Austrums is the Founder and CEO of The Connected Hive, bringing over twenty years of executive and leadership experience in the BPO and contact center industry. Based in Edina, MN, Tim has built a distinguished career working with leading organizations such as Humana, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Discover, Ameriprise, and government agencies including FEMA and the State of Louisiana. He specializes in healthcare member experience, contact center strategy, and negotiating multi-million dollar client and vendor relationships. A sharp strategist and skilled closer of $5–6 million dollar deals, Tim founded The Connected Hive to serve businesses with the personalized, expert guidance they need to navigate the complexities of the contact center and BPO landscape. His commitment to impeccability, transparency, and human connection drives every client engagement.
An e-commerce service supports the operational needs of online retail, such as order questions, shipping updates, returns, product inquiries, payment concerns, and customer experience management. For answering services, this usually includes phone, email, chat, and social media support handled by trained agents who understand the brand, policies, systems, and customer journey.
Get expert guidance before choosing your next support partner.
Regional contact center leadership and industry involvement.
Association membership supporting contact center best practices.
Customer experience association membership and professional engagement.
Share your support goals, channel mix, volume, and growth plans. The Connected Hive will help clarify the right contact center path for your retail or ecommerce brand.
For immediate assistance, feel free to give us a direct call at +1 952-500-0806.
For immediate assistance, feel free to give us a direct call at +1 952-500-0806.