BPO clients' flight to quality

Ayala Land remains confident that its investments to spur business process outsourcing industry growth will continue to prosper even during these challenging times. In fact, it gears up with plans to build other master planned developments designed for anchor locators in the BPO sector.

Ayala Land, which was recently named 2008 Best Overall Developer in the Philippines by the London-based Euromoney, is building within its Nuvali project in Laguna a replica of the recently opened UP Ayala Land Technohub in Diliman, Quezon City. Other planned locations for this integrated BPO campus-type development area in Asiatown IT Park in Cebu and Camp John Hay in Baguio City.

According to Jaime E. Ysmael, Ayala Land senior vice president and chief finance officer, businesses tend to gravitate towards the developer which provides the best deal for the longer haul. “Our experience is that in periods of economic contraction, clients become more discriminating and are careful in choosing their business partners — there is usually a flight to quality,” he stated.

“We believe in the long-term potentials of the BPO industry and Ayala Land is fully committed to provide the industry with best in class products that draw on its extensive experience in creating unique master planned communities that work well over time,” he added.

Alongside the distinction it earned as Best Overall Developer in the Philippines, Ayala Land was also judged Best BPO Developer by Euromoney. Ysmael referred to Ayala Land’s entry in BPO infrastructure development as a “natural expansion” for the company which is behind Makati’s growth as hub of CBD-type office buildings and regional headquarters of multinational corporations. Its seamless foray to the BPO business, which also involves mixed-use type of development, is also enabled by its ability to attract big anchor locators – both office tenants and retailers to participate in its projects.

“The UP-Ayala project is an example of how we create great synergy with the community, in this case, the UP campus where our project is situated.

We respond not only to the work environment requirements of our business locators, but also to the living and lifestyle needs of the people that they hope to attract and retain, through the residential and retail components of the project. At the same time, the technohub serves as a learning laboratory for the students of the school, which in turn provides the locators with a steady pool of talent,” Ysmael stated.