A GLOBAL outsourcing and consulting firm has expanded its Cebu operations to include customer contact center services.
The customer contact center service arm of Accenture, a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company, in Cebu can accommodate up to 500 employees.
The customer contact center service is part of Accenture’s expansion plans in Cebu, said Pankaj Vaish, managing director of the company’s delivery center network for business process outsourcing.
Vaish told a press conference yesterday that Accenture’s future direction would involve growth in the range of services it offers to clients.
He said the firm chose to expand in Cebu because of the availability of “highly-skilled” and “competent” labor, telecommunications infrastructure and government support.
He said Accenture is “very committed” to grow in Cebu. “Our focus now (is to grow) Cebu; (after we have maximized growth potentials here) and maybe will look for other areas (to expand to),” he added.
Accenture officials said they are not worried about shortage of talent for its new service arm.
Yogesh Mahotra, senior executive and country lead of Accenture Philippines BPO delivery center, said the company is working closely with the academe in Metro Manila—where the firm has six delivery centers—and the government for its work force requirements.
He said Accenture, which opened its Cebu delivery center in August 2007, is planning to do the same in Cebu.
While the BPO sector is known for high turnover of employees, Mahotra expressed confidence that Accenture personnel would opt to stay in the company.
He pointed out that Accenture has been named “best employer” in the Philippines and is among the top 10 employers in India.
Aside from stock options, Accenture provides regular trainings to its employees and the opportunity to build up careers in other parts of the company’s network in 49 countries.
Vaish also expressed confidence in the company’s continued growth despite the weakening of the US dollar and the peso’s appreciation.
“We are a very diversified company…we do not have a huge dependence on one location. (Thus) we are able to balance the difference in currency movements,” he said, adding that the US accounts for less than half of the company’s revenue source. (LAP)
