Thursday, September 13, 2007 Firm eyes bigger market share of BPOs in Cebu
AN integrated office systems and services provider is optimistic about capturing a good market share in the imaging and printing solutions sector of Cebu even though its business operations remain to be predominantly based in the Metro Manila.
U-Bix Corp. (U-Bix) Data Center general manager and assistant vice president Guilberto Be-nedicto said Cebu has been targeted as one of the priority areas for the expansion of U-bix’s business solutions software and technology.
U-Bix is focusing on tapping the needs of the burgeoning growth of the business process outsourcing industry here.
In an interview at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino yesterday, Benedicto said U-Bix in Manila has been servicing the country’s two biggest telecommunications companies, banks and insurance companies in their digital imaging, printing and scanning needs.
Replicate
“We would like to replicate activities in Metro Manila here in Cebu. Our market in Cebu is small but it has the potential to grow,” he said. “With the power of the Internet, it’s not impossible to say that within the year, we should be able to service banks and telcos (telecommunication companies) here.”
Daniel Lacson, company vice chairman, said the advent of new business solutions technologies will help globalize the countryside, level the playing field, and increase competitiveness among firms.
U-Bix Data Center caters to outsourcing and imaging services, including: microfilming; film and document scanning; database creation and management; offshore encoding and data entry; essential mail printing; and letter shopping.
Edilberto Bravo, U-Bix Corp. chairman and chief executive officer, said any institution that needs reorganization of data is deemed as a potential client.
Schools
Apart from business establishments, Benedicto said the company has started to address the needs of schools in printing and reorganizing records, cutting the time and cost of retrieving files in a matter of seconds.
He added U-Bix’s “greatest legacy” was the National Statistics Office (NSO) project which involved the conversion of certificates into digital format.
Instead of waiting for weeks to acquire a certification from NSO by visiting the office, one can simply pay through their banks and have the logistics company send the records immediately, Benedicto said.
“This is a result of an efficient and proper documentation management,” said Bravo.
Acquisition
In its determination to gain a major foothold in the imaging sector, U-Bix also announced its acquisition of Kodak Imaging Center Philippines (KICP) from Kodak Philippines Limited last Aug. 1.
U-Bix now has full control of KICP’s business, including document and microfilm scanning, and database creation and management, among others.
While Bravo did not disclose the purchase price of KICP, he assured that U-Bix retained 360 employees and seven managers of Kodak Imaging Center.
Founded in 1974, U-Bix now has a workforce of 800 people in 24 branches nationwide.
Its 2006 annual report revealed that the company gained a total net income of P37.25 million. (MMM)
