ONE of the leading players in the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry looks forward to expanding its operations in Cebu, citing its confidence in the pool of talent and strategic location.
“We will definitely continue to expand our operations across the country, particularly in Cebu, because of the kind of talent it produces and the support extended by the government, academe and the business community to the industry,” said Stephen Daoust, Convergys vice-president for operations, in a press conference held Monday.
“And we are looking for more expansions here in Cebu for this year,” he added, referring to the latest expansion of 377 production seats in Asiatown IT Park last year.
Convergys, which began operating in 2003, already has 20,000 employees spread across 12 locations nationwide.
While the United States remains the major market of the industry, Marife Zamora, Convergys vice-president and country manager, said the company has also tapped most industries like telecommunications, retail, financial services and health in other countries like Australia and United Kingdom.
She added that these industries posted a tremendous growth, which helped the business improve last year despite a troubled international economy.
Zamora reported that in the Philippines alone, the company opened more than 3,000 seats last year and five new sites, four in Luzon and one at the Asiatown IT Park in Cebu City.
This, she added, just shows that the Philippines, Cebu in particular, remains one of the sought-after sites of the BPO industries.
“Cebu attracts other neighboring cities or areas in the Visayas and Mindanao,” she said. She added that after the calamities hit Luzon last year, many clients turned to Cebu as a good location because fewer typhoons hit it.
To further attract more applicants this year, Zamora added they have partnered with the clothing line Bench.
“We are applying a new approach in attracting applicants aged 21 to 26 to join the industry,” she said.
Convergys hopes to attract applicants from the academe and career-shifters from other companies join the BPO industry.
Convergys has three facilities in Cebu, located in Banawa, Asiatown IT Park and i3.