Taking a different tack from its bigger Manila-based competitors, call center operator ClientLogic said it would increase presence outside Metro Manila as a way of reaching out to untapped talents in the provinces and contributing in the development of the countryside in the process.
Dan Reyes, country manager of ClientLogic, said in a recent press briefing that the company is looking at putting up a site in the Visayas, most likely outside of Metro Cebu.
"We’re still on the planning stage so we haven’t decided yet on the exact location of the site. But we’re definitely expanding in one of those cities in the South," said Reyes, who is also the president of the Business Outsourcing Association of the Philippines.
The provincial expansion of ClientLogic comes on the heels of the successful opening of its facility at the Baguio Export Processing Zone in Loakan Road.
"Until now, we’re the first and only call center that has located in Baguio," said Reyes.
The company invested
R320 million for its Baguio site, bringing its overall investment to a total of R1.2 billion.
With the additional 850 seats that the Baguiofacility has generated, ClientLogic now also has a total 2,500 seats.
Its main office in Ortigas Center houses a little less than 2,000 employees. The company official said locating in the countryside brings benefits to the company, the would-be recruits, and the province.
"For the company, we can find highly qualified employees who are not willing to go to MetroManila. The recruits, on the other hand, will not haveto go to Manila just to find a job. Lastly, for the province, the infrastructure they will put up will bring in development that they need."
When putting up a site, the minimum number of seats that the company employ is 300 seats — a number significant enough for a provincial city to set up a sound IT infrastructure so it can attract other locators as well, Reyes said. ClientLogic is a subsidiary of Canadian firm Onex Corporation which operates in 53 locations in 12 countries throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. It call center services include integrated customer acquisition, list management and brokerage, database design and development, multi-channel customer and technical support, e-commerce services, andwarehousing/fulfillment. Its roster of clients includes Sony Corp., DirectTV, TiVO, National Geographic Television, and UnitedOnline. (Melvin G. Calimag)
