HCL opens BPO in QC

Manila, Philippines -  India-based HCL Technologies has opened a 400-seat business process outsourcing office (BPO) along Quezon Avenue in Quezon City for high-value transaction services in finance, pharmacy and healthcare.

In a briefing yesterday, HCL head of global operations Raghavan Rangarajan said the so-called global delivery centre in Quezon City is part of the expansion of its integrated global delivery model (IGDM). Operations began last January.

In expanding its services to the Philippines, HCL will be taking advantage of the country’s time zone advantage to service its growing number of global clients.

HCL officials declined to disclose the total investment amount involved in the project but Rangaranjan said most of it would be spent on BPO infrastructure and the training of its human resources to do specific jobs in the company.

The new office in Quezon City will deliver high-value transaction services and domain-oriented industry specific processes.

Rangaranjan said the Philippine center reinforces HCL’s objective to provide customers with generation BPO services characteristic of deep domain focus and integrated global delivery.

He said that compared to putting up the delivery center in India, HCL would not be having substantial savings.

“I don’t see difference in the cost. It is more in terms of talent pool availability,” he said.

HCL is working with the Business Process Association of the Philippines (BPAP) to attract capable professionals.

Vice president and Human Resources head Subrat Chakravarty said the company would prefer experienced professionals, especially those that are capable of leadership roles. No age limit is preferred; the skill level of professionals would be more valued.

BPAP executive director Raymond Lacdao welcomed the new investment, saying it would contribute to the creation of a strong pool of highly-skilled BPO professionals in the country.

“We are extremely pleased with the commitment shown by HCL to collaborate with BPAP in the various initiatives spearheaded to create and sustain a robust pool of skilled and motivated workers to further growth. We are confident that HCL’s plans for developing its Philippine center, and through its involvement, we will help create a more flexible training ground that will complement the industry’s talent and skill requirements,” he said.

HCL has a network of offices in 26 countries with over 82,400 employees.