Top Customer Support Outsourcing Companies
-
Featured
What are Featured Providers?
$1,000+< $25 / hr1,000 - 9,999Chicago, ILServices provided
See all 28 projectsHugo Inc. | Top CX Provider is a leading Customer Support Outsourcing firm, offering services such as Call Center Outsourcing and Customer Service BPO. The company is highly praised for its efficient project management and adaptability, with 100% of reviewers appreciating their seamless communication and integration into business processes. Their capacity to scale and maintain high service quality is consistently highlighted, contributing to improved customer satisfaction and operational efficiency.
$5,000+< $25 / hr1,000 - 9,999Lexington, KYServices provided
See all 46 projectsHelpware is a Customer Service Outsourcing company that specializes in delivering remote customer care solutions, including troubleshooting, multi-lingual support, and 24/7 service capabilities. Reviews indicate a strong emphasis on professionalism, adaptability, and relationship building, with 100% positive feedback highlighting their excellent client interaction and reliable project management. Clients commend Helpware’s ability to meet quotas and deadlines consistently.
UndisclosedUndisclosed1,000 - 9,999Limassol, CyprusServices provided
See all 37 projectsMindy Support is a Customer Service BPO specializing in multilingual customer support, call center outsourcing, and remote customer care services. Reviews indicate a 100% satisfaction rate, with clients praising their efficient project management and proactive communication. Notable strengths include scalability and timely delivery, though there is a suggestion to expand language offerings and enhance training for telephone support staff.
-
$5,000+< $25 / hr1,000 - 9,999
Services provided
Appointments Setter is a large Business Consulting company. They offer Business Consulting and Call Center Services and were established in 2014.
Read more -
$50,000+< $25 / hr50 - 249Jaipur, India
Services provided
Moonshine Services is a Jaipur, India-based Back Office Outsourcing company. The team focuses on Back Office Outsourcing and Customer Service Outsourcing.
Read more -
$1,000+< $25 / hr1,000 - 9,999Opa-locka, FL
Services provided
TopCom Solutions, a large answering service, is headquartered in Opa-locka, Florida and Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The team offers Call Center Services and Back Office Outsourcing.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosed1,000 - 9,999
Services provided
Sourcewiser is a Back Office Outsourcing company in Melbourne, Australia. The team focuses on Back Office Outsourcing and Finance & Accounting Outsourcing (FAO).
Read more -
$1,000+$100 - $149 / hr10 - 49Fornovo San Giovanni, Italy
Services provided
Studio Castelli is a small Email Marketing company located in Fornovo San Giovanni, Italy. The team specializes in Email Marketing and Search Engine Optimization.
Read more -
$1,000+< $25 / hr1,000 - 9,999Chicago, IL
Services provided
Administrative Resource Options is a call center service. They are headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. Their team focuses on Call Center Services and Customer Service Outsourcing.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosed50 - 249Mississauga, Canada
Services provided
NCRi is an answering service company established in 2008. The firm focuses on Call Center Services and Back Office Outsourcing.
Read more -
$5,000+$50 - $99 / hr50 - 249
Services provided
Pearl Lemon Leads Canada is a call center service based in Ottawa, Canada. They specialize in Call Center Services and Sales Outsourcing.
Read more -
$5,000+$25 - $49 / hr250 - 999
Services provided
Customer Service Outsourcing company Murkez Technologies is headquartered in Sugar Land, Texas. They offer Customer Service Outsourcing and Finance & Accounting Outsourcing (FAO).
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosed50 - 249Malabon, Philippines
Services provided
Eastworld Sales Philippines is a Warehousing & Distribution company. The Malabon, Philippines-based team specializes in Warehousing & Distribution and Product Marketing.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosed10 - 49Brooklyn, NY
Services provided
7 Virtual Assistant Services is a Market Research company founded in 2016. The team specializes in Market Research and Business Consulting and is located in Brooklyn, New York.
Read more -
$1,000+$25 - $49 / hr10 - 49Sofia, Bulgaria
Services provided
Established in 2019, ODEON msc - A TTC brand is a Finance & Accounting Outsourcing (FAO) company. The team offers Finance & Accounting Outsourcing (FAO) and HR Consulting.
Read more -
$1,000+$25 - $49 / hr50 - 249West Palm Beach, FL
Services provided
See all 1 projectsLiveforce is a Customer Service Outsourcing (CSO) company specializing in call center solutions and after-hours customer care. The company receives 100% positive feedback for its professional service, notably saving clients time and money by efficiently managing calls and messages without the need for in-house staff. Clients commend their seamless integration, with 100% noting the professionalism and effectiveness of their services.
-
$1,000+< $25 / hr50 - 249Rehoboth Beach, DE
Services provided
Digitech Outsourcing Solution LLC is a Back Office Outsourcing company. Founded in 2010, the team provides Back Office Outsourcing and Public Relations.
Read more -
$5,000+Undisclosed10 - 49Melbourne, Australia
Services provided
LeadCallers is an answering service. Their team is located in Melbourne, Australia and focuses on Call Center Services and Sales Outsourcing.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosed50 - 249Costa Mesa, CA
Services provided
Founded in 2009, Branded Online Ecommerce is a midsize Costa Mesa, California-based e-commerce development firm. Their services include E-Commerce Development and Fulfillment.
Read more -
$5,000+< $25 / hr1,000 - 9,999New York, NY
Services provided
Integreon, a large Back Office Outsourcing company, is headquartered in New York, New York and Makati, Philippines. Their services include Back Office Outsourcing and Transcription.
Read more -
Undisclosed< $25 / hr50 - 249Chervonohrad, Ukraine
Services provided
Graf Call Center is a midsize answering service company established in 2008. Their team offers Call Center Services and Customer Service Outsourcing.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosed10 - 49
Services provided
See all 3 projectsDCDial provides comprehensive payment collection and dialer services, enabling remote operations and enhancing client-consumer contact ratios. Reviews consistently highlight DCDial's effective integration of calling and payment services, exceptional customer support, and timely, proactive solutions. Some users suggest interface simplifications for ease of use. Overall, DCDial is praised for its efficiency, support responsiveness, and value for money.
-
UndisclosedUndisclosed10 - 49
Services provided
CMS is a small Columbus, Ohio-based answering service company. Their services include Call Center Services and Customer Service Outsourcing.
Read more -
$1,000+< $25 / hr50 - 249Los Angeles, CA
Services provided
Zventus is an answering service. The midsize Los Angeles, California-based team specializes in Call Center Services and Sales Outsourcing. The firm was established in 2016.
Read more -
$1,000+< $25 / hr1,000 - 9,999T'bilisi, Georgia
Services provided
Clark Staff is a large St. Petersburg, Florida-based Architectural Design company. Their services include Architectural Design and other IT consulting and SI.
Read more -
$1,000+< $25 / hr250 - 999Toronto, Canada
Services provided
Established in 1978, Gatestone & Co. Is a phone answering service. The firm offers Call Center Services and Sales Outsourcing.
Read more -
$1,000+< $25 / hr250 - 999
Services provided
ETechSupport, an IT strategy consulting company, was founded in 2005. The team specializes in IT strategy consulting and Cybersecurity.
Read more -
$25,000+< $25 / hr250 - 999
Services provided
RepStack is a Back Office Outsourcing company launched in 2019. The team offers Back Office Outsourcing and Customer Service Outsourcing and is based in Wilmington, Delaware.
Read more -
$25,000+< $25 / hr250 - 999Harare, Zimbabwe
Services provided
Omnicontact is a midsize Business Consulting company launched in 2009. Their services include Business Consulting and Call Center Services.
Read more -
$1,000+Undisclosed50 - 249Erkelenz, Germany
Services provided
Tolksdorf Communication is a Customer Service Outsourcing company. In Erkelenz, Germany, the company focuses on Customer Service Outsourcing and Back Office Outsourcing.
Read more -
Undisclosed< $25 / hr10 - 49
Services provided
See all 1 projectsEmpire Outsourcing is a premier outsourcing provider that helps businesses optimize operations, reduce costs, and enhance customer experience. Specializing in a wide range of services, including
Read more -
$1,000+< $25 / hr2 - 9
Services provided
Dyope is an answering service. The team provides Call Center Services and Customer Service Outsourcing, and the company is located in Thessaloniki, Greece.
Read more -
$1,000+< $25 / hr10,000+Bengaluru, India
Services provided
Founded in 2002, Infosys BPO is a call center company. The large team specializes in Call Center Services and Back Office Outsourcing.
Read more -
$1,000+< $25 / hr10 - 49
Services provided
Valatam - Virtual Assistance Latin America is a small Back Office Outsourcing company launched in 2016. Their team focuses on Back Office Outsourcing and Recruiting.
Read more -
$1,000+< $25 / hr50 - 249New York, NY
Services provided
NEO MD INC is a New York, New York-based Back Office Outsourcing company. They specialize in Back Office Outsourcing and Customer Service Outsourcing and were established in 2021.
Read more -
Undisclosed$100 - $149 / hr2 - 9Amsterdam, Netherlands
Services provided
Netherlands Virtual Office is an Amsterdam, Netherlands-based Back Office Outsourcing company. The team specializes in Back Office Outsourcing and Customer Service Outsourcing.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosed10 - 49Prishtina, Kosovo
Services provided
AnchorzUp, an user experience company, is based in Prishtina, Kosovo. The team specializes in UX/UI Design and Web Development.
Read more -
$1,000+$50 - $99 / hr10 - 49Toronto, Canada
Services provided
See all 1 projectsGrasp Solutions offers Customer Support Outsourcing, Call Center Outsourcing, and virtual receptionist services. Reviewers consistently highlight their budget-friendly pricing, high-quality impact on customers, and timely delivery of services. Overall, Grasp Solutions is praised for their excellent customer care outsourcing capabilities and effective project management.
-
$5,000+< $25 / hr2 - 9
Services provided
Salecline, a Customer Service Outsourcing company, is located in Mumbai, India. They offer Customer Service Outsourcing and Call Center Services.
Read more -
$1,000+< $25 / hr1,000 - 9,999El Paso, TX
Services provided
Datamark, a Finance & Accounting Outsourcing (FAO) company, was established in 1989. The agency provides Finance & Accounting Outsourcing (FAO) and Call Center Services.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosed1,000 - 9,999Marlow, England
Services provided
Whistl , a Fulfillment company, was founded in 1950. The team focuses on Fulfillment and Call Center Services and is based in Marlow, England.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosed50 - 249
Services provided
Rapid Phone Center is an answering service company founded in 2014. The team provides Call Center Services and Back Office Outsourcing and is headquartered in Los Angeles, California.
Read more -
$10,000+< $25 / hr50 - 249Dhaka, Bangladesh
Services provided
See all 1 projectsWe are 360-SUPPORTS one of the best and fast growing Call Center that works with fortune 2000 companies to help them with all of their marketing needs. We are a full fledge US based contact center
Read more -
$1,000+< $25 / hr10 - 49Dnipro, Ukraine
Services provided
Shift-Arts, a Customer Service Outsourcing company, was founded in 2015. The small team offers Customer Service Outsourcing and Back Office Outsourcing.
Read more -
$5,000+< $25 / hr250 - 999Kingston, Jamaica
Services provided
Back Office Outsourcing company IntellectX Global Solutions Limited is in Kingston, Jamaica. Their services include Back Office Outsourcing and Customer Service Outsourcing.
Read more -
$1,000+$25 - $49 / hr250 - 999
Services provided
Techdrive Connect, an IT managed services company, was established in 2015. The team offers IT managed services and Artificial Intelligence.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosed250 - 999Iloilo City, Philippines
Services provided
Avatar Stars is a call center. The team is located in Bengaluru, India and Iloilo City, Philippines, and their services include Call Center Services and Back Office Outsourcing.
Read more -
$10,000+< $25 / hr250 - 999Melville, NY
Services provided
Protalk Solutions is a Melville, New York-based phone answering service. Their services include Call Center Services and Back Office Outsourcing.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosed250 - 999
Services provided
Call center service Qwest BPO was founded in 2011. The team provides Call Center Services and Back Office Outsourcing.
Read more -
$1,000+< $25 / hr250 - 999Indianapolis, IN
Services provided
Virtual Value LLC is a midsize Indianapolis, Indiana-based call center. The team specializes in Call Center Services and Back Office Outsourcing.
Read more -
$5,000+$25 - $49 / hr10 - 49Bakersfield, CA
Services provided
Founded in 2018, Call Vidia is a Customer Service Outsourcing company. The company offers Customer Service Outsourcing and Back Office Outsourcing, and is small.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosed10 - 49
Services provided
Expert Locksmith Shop is a small Customer Service Outsourcing company. They offer Customer Service Outsourcing and Sales Outsourcing and were established in 1975.
Read more -
$5,000+< $25 / hr50 - 249Skopje, North Macedonia
Services provided
Agile Pro Solutions, a Sales Outsourcing company, was launched in 2020. They provides Sales Outsourcing and Call Center Services.
Read more
Share your project goals, and we’ll connect you with verified partners who fit your budget and timeline.
Get My Matches
Tell us what you need — we’ll match you with top agencies in minutes.
Get My MatchesWhy Trust Clutch
At Clutch, we believe trust is the foundation of every business relationship. Our mission is to help buyers make confident, data-backed decisions informed by real client experiences.
Every review on Clutch undergoes a rigorous, human-led verification process to make sure it’s valid. Our team of specialists confirms the identity of each reviewer, ensures the project is legitimate, and only publishes reviews that meet our strict criteria.
Verification doesn’t stop at the point of publication. Our Trust & Safety team routinely audits older reviews against our guidelines. When reviews fall short of our standards, we remove them.
We evaluate service providers using a structured methodology that combines:
- In-depth client interviews and ratings
- Comprehensive project details
- Market presence
- Portfolio examples and industry recognition
This data powers tools like the Leaders Matrix, which helps you compare agencies directly. Our research team curates rankings by weighing verified reviews most heavily, so the most trusted and experienced providers rise to the top.
Using this unique combination of verified client feedback and provider-supplied insights, Clutch distills the most important details into clear, digestible summaries so you have everything you need to make confident, informed decisions quickly.
We take fraud seriously. Providers who violate our guidelines may face lower rankings, restricted visibility, or removal from the platform altogether.
Clutch’s commitment to transparency is ongoing. We’re constantly refining our systems to protect the integrity of reviews and support you in finding the right agency.
Best Customer Service Outsourcing Companies
-
$1,000+< $25 / hr1,000 - 9,999Wilmington, DE
Ability to deliver
39.4/40.020/20 Reviews9.6/10 Clients & Experience9.8/10 Market PresenceService focus
55% Customer Service Outsourcing45% Other -
$10,000+< $25 / hr250 - 999San Pablo City, Philippines
Ability to deliver
38.7/40.020/20 Reviews10/10 Clients & Experience8.7/10 Market PresenceService focus
40% Customer Service Outsourcing60% Other -
$1,000+< $25 / hr250 - 999Kyiv, Ukraine
Ability to deliver
37.5/40.018.6/20 Reviews10/10 Clients & Experience8.9/10 Market PresenceService focus
50% Customer Service Outsourcing50% Other -
$1,000+< $25 / hr1,000 - 9,999Chicago, IL
Ability to deliver
37.5/40.018.6/20 Reviews9.4/10 Clients & Experience9.5/10 Market PresenceService focus
25% Customer Service Outsourcing75% Other -
$1,000+< $25 / hr1,000 - 9,999Gilbert, AZ
Ability to deliver
39.6/40.020/20 Reviews10/10 Clients & Experience9.6/10 Market PresenceService focus
15% Customer Service Outsourcing85% Other -
$5,000+< $25 / hr1,000 - 9,999Lexington, KY
Ability to deliver
36.7/40.017/20 Reviews10/10 Clients & Experience9.7/10 Market PresenceService focus
60% Customer Service Outsourcing40% Other -
$1,000+< $25 / hr250 - 999Warszawa, Poland
Ability to deliver
36.4/40.016.8/20 Reviews10/10 Clients & Experience9.6/10 Market PresenceService focus
60% Customer Service Outsourcing40% Other -
Undisclosed< $25 / hr1,000 - 9,999Boise, ID
Ability to deliver
36.3/40.016.8/20 Reviews10/10 Clients & Experience9.5/10 Market PresenceService focus
60% Customer Service Outsourcing40% Other -
$1,000+< $25 / hr10 - 49Manila, Philippines
Ability to deliver
35.9/40.018.4/20 Reviews9.8/10 Clients & Experience7.7/10 Market PresenceService focus
75% Customer Service Outsourcing25% Other -
$1,000+< $25 / hr50 - 249Sugar Land, TX
Ability to deliver
38.1/40.020/20 Reviews10/10 Clients & Experience8.1/10 Market PresenceService focus
30% Customer Service Outsourcing70% Other -
$1,000+< $25 / hr1,000 - 9,999Angeles, Philippines
Ability to deliver
35.4/40.017/20 Reviews10/10 Clients & Experience8.4/10 Market PresenceService focus
30% Customer Service Outsourcing70% Other -
$1,000+Undisclosed1,000 - 9,999Santa Monica, CA
Ability to deliver
35.4/40.015.8/20 Reviews10/10 Clients & Experience9.6/10 Market PresenceService focus
50% Customer Service Outsourcing50% Other -
$1,000+< $25 / hr250 - 999Portland, OR
Ability to deliver
39.7/40.019.8/20 Reviews10/10 Clients & Experience9.9/10 Market PresenceService focus
10% Customer Service Outsourcing90% Other -
$1,000+< $25 / hr1,000 - 9,999Hollywood, FL
Ability to deliver
38.9/40.020/20 Reviews10/10 Clients & Experience8.9/10 Market PresenceService focus
10% Customer Service Outsourcing90% Other -
$1,000+< $25 / hr50 - 249Afton, WY
Ability to deliver
34.9/40.018/20 Reviews7.1/10 Clients & Experience9.7/10 Market PresenceService focus
65% Customer Service Outsourcing35% Other -
$1,000+< $25 / hr250 - 999Brandon, FL
Ability to deliver
34.9/40.017.2/20 Reviews7.9/10 Clients & Experience9.7/10 Market PresenceService focus
55% Customer Service Outsourcing45% Other -
$1,000+Undisclosed250 - 999Brooklyn, NY
Ability to deliver
34.8/40.020/20 Reviews8.6/10 Clients & Experience6.2/10 Market PresenceService focus
80% Customer Service Outsourcing20% Other -
$1,000+< $25 / hr250 - 999Hatboro, PA
Ability to deliver
35.3/40.017.6/20 Reviews8.7/10 Clients & Experience9/10 Market PresenceService focus
30% Customer Service Outsourcing70% Other -
$5,000+$25 - $49 / hr50 - 249Austin, TX
Ability to deliver
34.6/40.017.8/20 Reviews10/10 Clients & Experience6.8/10 Market PresenceService focus
50% Customer Service Outsourcing50% Other -
$5,000+$25 - $49 / hr250 - 999Home, KS
Ability to deliver
34.6/40.017.2/20 Reviews9.2/10 Clients & Experience8.2/10 Market PresenceService focus
40% Customer Service Outsourcing60% Other -
$10,000+< $25 / hr10,000+Canton, OH
Ability to deliver
34.2/40.014.6/20 Reviews10/10 Clients & Experience9.6/10 Market PresenceService focus
30% Customer Service Outsourcing70% Other -
$5,000+< $25 / hr1,000 - 9,999Cebu City, Philippines
Ability to deliver
34.2/40.017.4/20 Reviews10/10 Clients & Experience6.8/10 Market PresenceService focus
30% Customer Service Outsourcing70% Other -
$50,000+< $25 / hr10,000+Wei Fang Shi, China
Ability to deliver
34.1/40.015.8/20 Reviews10/10 Clients & Experience8.3/10 Market PresenceService focus
50% Customer Service Outsourcing50% Other -
$1,000+< $25 / hr250 - 999Pasig, Philippines
Ability to deliver
34.6/40.016.4/20 Reviews9.3/10 Clients & Experience8.9/10 Market PresenceService focus
30% Customer Service Outsourcing70% Other -
$5,000+< $25 / hr50 - 249Cairo, Egypt
Ability to deliver
36.3/40.017.8/20 Reviews10/10 Clients & Experience8.5/10 Market PresenceService focus
30% Customer Service Outsourcing70% Other -
$1,000+< $25 / hr250 - 999Amsterdam, Netherlands
Ability to deliver
33.6/40.016.8/20 Reviews10/10 Clients & Experience6.8/10 Market PresenceService focus
45% Customer Service Outsourcing55% Other -
$10,000+Undisclosed250 - 999Nijmegen, Netherlands
Ability to deliver
33.4/40.016/20 Reviews9.7/10 Clients & Experience7.7/10 Market PresenceService focus
45% Customer Service Outsourcing55% Other -
$10,000+< $25 / hr1,000 - 9,999Cambridge, MA
Ability to deliver
33.3/40.017.4/20 Reviews8.5/10 Clients & Experience7.5/10 Market PresenceService focus
70% Customer Service Outsourcing30% Other -
$10,000+$25 - $49 / hr250 - 999Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam
Ability to deliver
37.7/40.018.2/20 Reviews10/10 Clients & Experience9.5/10 Market PresenceService focus
10% Customer Service Outsourcing90% Other -
$1,000+$25 - $49 / hr250 - 999Orlando, FL
Ability to deliver
35.5/40.016.4/20 Reviews10/10 Clients & Experience9.1/10 Market PresenceService focus
20% Customer Service Outsourcing80% Other
Customer Support Outsourcing FAQs
Freelancers can fill short-term gaps but often lack management structure, QA processes, and redundant staffing. A dedicated customer support outsourcing company provides dedicated leadership, scalability, and established SLAs—crucial for brands that need consistent, round-the-clock coverage.
E-commerce, SaaS, fintech, travel, and healthcare commonly leverage outsourced teams to handle seasonal spikes, global user bases, or specialized compliance requirements.
A customer support outsourcing company acts as an external help desk, handling inbound and outbound interactions across phone, chat, email, social media, and other channels. These agencies make sure scripts align with brand guidelines and KPIs for optimal effectiveness. Moreover, they also handle the recruitment, training, and management of experienced agents who will be in charge of resolving tickets, processing orders, and providing technical assistance on behalf of the client. Ultimately, their main goal is to maintain—or improve—customer satisfaction while reducing overhead and expanding service coverage.
Customer support outsourcing companies don’t just provide one-size-fits-all solutions; they tailor their strategies and approach to help businesses provide the best support to their customers. When partnering with a full-service provider, clients can expect services such as:
- Voice, chat, and email support (Tier 1–3)
- Technical troubleshooting and product onboarding
- Order processing, refunds, and billing inquiries
- Social media moderation and community management
- Multilingual or 24/7 coverage
- Quality assurance, analytics, and CSAT reporting
Many agencies also bundle back-office tasks such as data entry or CRM administration to create an end-to-end customer operations solution.
Most customer service outsourcing projects reviewed on Clutch range from $10,000 – $49,999. Pricing depends on various factors such as agent location, language skills, and complexity of support. Here’s a rundown of average costs:
- Shared agents: $8–$15 per hour (often offshore)
- Dedicated agents: $15–$30 per hour for mid-tier markets
- Specialized or technical agents in high-cost regions: $30–$50+ per hour
When preparing a budget, ensure you have a clear understanding of your project and which factors impact pricing. Always confirm whether fees include training, software licenses, and quality monitoring.
- Map your project’s unique requirements—channels, hours, volumes, and languages.
- Shortlist vendors with proven experience in your industry and ticket complexity.
- Review verified client ratings, case studies, and sample reports on Clutch to evaluate performance metrics such as first-contact resolution or NPS lifts.
- Assess cultural fit—communication cadence, escalation procedures, and data-security standards.
- Schedule a discovery call or an interview to thoroughly discuss your project and get to know more about their services.
- Run a pilot or SLA-backed trial before signing a long-term contract.
- Guaranteed CSAT scores without a clear methodology
- Vague pricing or hidden setup fees
- High agent turnover rates or lack of training documentation
- Limited transparency into QA scores or call recordings
- Poor data-security certifications (e.g., no ISO/PCI compliance)
- How do you recruit, train, and retain agents for my account?
- Which tools (CRM, ticketing, QA) do you use, and can you integrate with ours?
- What are your average response and resolution times for clients like us?
- How is performance reported, and how often can we audit calls/chats?
- What is your disaster-recovery and data-protection policy?
- Can we start with a pilot program, and how is success defined?