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LIVEIT
Solutions Inc., the Ayala Corp.’s holding firm for the
business process outsourcing (BPO) sector, said the
industry is resilient enough to weather the impact of a
US
economic slowdown.
The
company has investments in three outsourcing companies,
namely, Integreon Managed Solutions Inc., a US-based
solutions provider; e-Telecare Global Solutions Inc., a
major player in the call-center industry; and Affinity
Express Inc., a leading BPO firm that provides graphics
and design services.
At the
launch of Integreon’s first Philippine office Wednesday,
Ayala chairman Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala II said
their group remains encouraged by the promising sector
notwithstanding the potential effect of the US
recession.
“As we
know there are business cycles in the world, in all
areas. And if recession takes place, there will always
be a slowdown in activity. But we are looking here at a
global trend over the long term, which we think is not
going to slowdown,” he said.
He said
LiveIt is excited about the direction of the outsourcing
business globally.
“We
would like to participate in a fast-growing industry
globally and not only just in the
Philippines
and so we have put in stakes in global companies that
are making a difference. From an Ayala group
perspective, we are tackling it not only through LiveIt,
but also through the real-estate front, through
Ayala Land,
by providing more office spaces and at the same time,
the telecom side, via Globe Telecom, by providing the
telco needs of the industry,” Ayala added.
As a
confirmation of Ayala Corp.’s confidence in the BPO
industry, LiveIt chief executive Fred Ayala said they
will be investing more capital into the three companies
for their organic growth and planned acquisitions.
Since
LiveIt was established in 2006, it has invested around
$122 million in e-Telecare, Affinity Express and
Integreon.
According to Ayala, Integreon is currently doing due
diligence for potential acquisition of a BPO company.
Integreon is a global leader in corporate, legal and
financial complex knowledge process outsourcing (KPO).
It
operates in the
US,
India and London, and recently added Manila as the
newest strategic delivery site.
“The
quality and abundance of talent as well as the affinity
for US legal and financial frameworks are among the
advantages in locating here,” said Integreon chief
executive Liam Brown in another interview.
He said
the company’s presence in the Philippines will boost its
ability to capture opportunities in the offshore legal
services sector, which is expected to grow to nearly
$500 million in five years as well as in offshoring
research and analytics in banking and financial
services, which are projected to grow to $620 million by
2012. |
