PLDT cranks up BPO arm for primetime
After its formal introduction as the consolidated BPO division of PLDT, SPi Global has set an ambitious goal of generating at least $500 million in revenues in the next three to four years from last year’s income of $185 million.
SPi Global, which arose out of the combination of SPi Technologies and ePLDT Ventus, said it is now the largest Filipino-owned BPO firm with a total headcount of about 14,000 around the globe.
Manuel V. Pangilinan, chairman of SPi Global, said during the press launch held in a Makati hotel that he expects to double the number of its BPO workforce in roughly the same period.
Pangilinan said that although PLDT’s BPO business accounts for just six percent of the company’s total revenue, the potential for growth, particularly in data outsourcing, is tremendous.
“The creation of SPi Global leverages the strength and capabilities of two PLDT enterprises with decades of combined experience in delivering world-class knowledge process outsourcing (KPO) and CRM outsourcing services to various countries,” Pangilinan said in a statement.
“I believe it is now poised to compete more effectively in the global market. SPi Global defines a truly Filipino brand with a global persona,” he added.
Maulik Parekh, SPi Global president and CEO, said the consolidation was aimed at building the scale and strength of SPi Global in the content, health information management, and customer relationship management (CRM) outsourcing arena.
“Considering the more complex demands of clients these days, it is time to position the company as an organization with multiple competencies that delivers customized, end-to-end outsourcing solutions worldwide,” said Parekh, who was the former general manager of TeleTech Philippines.
fficials said SPi Global is structured to be a full-service global BPO solutions provider operating with three core business units: SPi CRM, SPi Content Solutions, and SPi Healthcare.
The company currently serves over 500 clients, mostly based in North America and Europe.
SPi Global started out as SPi Technologies in 1980, offering content outsourcing services to mostly top American firms. In July of 2006, ePLDT, a wholly-owned subsidiary of PLDT, acquired the company.
In June 2010, PLDT created SPi Global Holdings to serve as the umbrella company for two operating entities – SPi Technologies and ePLDT Ventus, a call center operator with 7,000 employees that was also owned by ePLDT.
