Thursday, May 10, 2007 BPO opens 2nd site at IT park By Malou M. Mozo Sun.Star Staff Reporter
TO SIGNIFY its confidence in Cebu’s business process outsourcing (BPO) industry, an international outsourcing company opened its second site in the province.
President Arroyo lauded yesterday Convergys Philippines for opening its eighth integrated contact center investment in the country at the i2 building in Asiatown IT Park (AITP), Lahug, Cebu City.
It hopes to capture a good number of employees in the metropolitan area.
Although the company is operating a site in Arcenas Estate, Banawa, it has chosen to locate in AITP, which is closer to residents in northern and central Cebu.
“The one in Banawa caters to those in the south,” said Marife Zamora, Convergys vice president and country manager.
The new site, which occupies two floors of the i2 building is expected to fill 1,200 seats.
The Banawa site currently employs 1,200 professionals.
While attrition or turnover rates continue to hound the BPO sector, Stephen Slade, Convergys director for Cebu operations, said its Cebu operations continue to register a “record low of employee attrition,” which prompted them to expand.
“Our attraction is not just to expand but also in taking care of our employees, that is why we have a strong and steady following,” he told a press conference yesterday at the site’s formal launching.
Zamora said the company prides in providing career path opportunities for its employees, apart from competitive salaries and occasional entertainment and wellness activities.
Revenue growth
In a press statement, the Ohio-based BPO company recorded revenues of $719.9 million in the first quarter of this year, a seven percent jump from the same period last year, reflecting growth from the customer care and employee care segments.
Customer care revenues of $469 million rose eight percent attributing this to growth in existing clients in the communication, technology and financial services.
Employee care revenues grew $65 million or a 24 percent increase from the $52.5 million in the same period last year.
“We do not break financial information out based on region but we are confident the Philippines will continue to be successful for the company,” Clint Streit, Convergys executive vice president for global operations, said in a statement.
Bullish over Cebu’s BPO sector, Slade said they are planning two additional sites within the next two years. Convergys Philippines, which opened in 2003, has eight contact centers nationwide, six of which are in Manila.
It has employed 10,500 professionals nationwide.
Recently, it was recognized by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority as both 2006 Outstanding Employer and Exporter.
Convergys Corp., one of the world’s providers of outsourced customer care, operates in 76 sites worldwide including US, Canada, UK, India and the Philippines.
