High-tech with a heart

MANILA, Philippines - Two decades ago, Angelo Balili had the vision to leverage the growing power of technology — and so was born Questronix.  Today, Questronix has gone on to become one of the leading IT companies in the Philippines, partnering with global giants such as IBM.  Balili serves as the chairman of the Questronix Group of Companies.

The country ranks among the premier outsourcing destinations in the world, with Questronix among its players.  The predecessor of Questronix was founded as a data entry business in the 1980s, with only 10 employees.  Such was the growth of the company, that within only a period of 18 months, the headcount had ballooned to over 1,000 employees.

“We were generating dollar revenues at a time when the economy needed it most. We did our part in generating employment amid the unstable political and economic climate prevailing at that time,” says Balili.

A CPA by training and profession, Balili saw things in a different light.  His analytical mind knew that he needed the support of the techies in the industry, but also that service was a key ingredient of this offering.  Simply having a data-entry business was not the recipe for success; he knew it had to be differentiated and add value to the customers. 

“I developed an appreciation for the industry and I hired the best people available, ” he adds.   

Questronix’s predecessor, the data conversion company, was growing rapidly and feeding off these clients’ demands; but it also faced the threat of losing out on key business opportunities if it didn’t diversify its offerings.  It is this vision, and understanding for the need to be current and in-synch with the client’s needs that gave birth to Questronix. He says, “It was clear that we had to anticipate the needs of our clients with operations that were 24-hours a day,” he adds. â€Why not put it up ourselves?  Go into the computer business?” 

With an initial capital of P100,000, Questronix Corporation was born.  Of course, typical of the man and his vision to help out others around him meant that Balili didn’t withhold all the profits of the burgeoning enterprise for himself and his family.  He gave his employees a chance to be a part of this vision, to be a part of something they had never experienced before, to be a part of something that would change their lives forever.  “I put in a hundred thousand and gave them forty percent as their equity participation”, he reveals.  “Our competitors were funded by foreign investors, but we started as a group of employees. Kami-kami lang,” he says.  This epitomizes Balili’s ‘people first’ mantra.   

  The focus on its people means that Questronix emphasizes the importance of training its employees to provide them with the right skill sets.  The company hires hardworking individuals, spends on their training, and nurtures the right personal and professional attitude. “No amount of great ideas will carry the company forward. It’s the people you take in,” says Balili. 

Despite this approach and a focus on its employees, Questronix is at a disadvantage.  Like a number of other IT companies in the country, it faces a high degree of attrition.  Balili admits this as being a major issue facing Questronix; “You cannot compete with the dollar or a dinar,” he says realistically.

However, he still has a positive spin on what other entrepreneurs might consider a problem. “Some return when their contracts are over. That’s the highest complement a businessman can get—the ultimate,” he enthuses.  It is this positive attitude and care for his employees that also makes  Balili a favorite among the employees at Questronix. 

The company continues to expand its horizons and service offerings covering government, banking, manufacturing, food, retail, telecommunications, construction, utilities and entertainment. While catering to some of the largest and most recognizable business names in the country.  It recently opened up a new business venture, a BPO company, in the new and upcoming business district of Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

“I don’t measure success based on bottomline or the millions that you earn for yourself or your company. How much do you really need? It’s the kind of individuals you set forth in this world that matters,” he says. “Success is given to those who deserve it. I’m happy that I’ve touched many lives. It’s my overriding dream to help.”