Alorica to operate new Makati facility in October

UPBEAT about its expansion in the Philippines driven by the continued growth of the local business-process outsourcing (BPO) industry, Alorica announced on Friday the opening its 18th site in the country in less than two months, employing around 3,000 people.

“We are very bullish about the country. We are very bullish about the prospects for the BPO industry here,” Alorica Asia President Bong Borja told reporters during the company’s news briefing in Makati. “You will see us grow even more, as we’re very aggressive.”

The upcoming commencement of its third site in Makati, with its operations going live starting on October 1, is part of its new partnership with property developer Majalco Inc. and real-estate brokerage Leechiu Property Consultants Inc. (LPC).

“To be able to achieve these expansion goals to drive our business growth, we have chosen to partner with LPC because of their experience and top position in the Philippine real-estate market. Our new office is provided with a full suite of business solutions and information-technology (IT) equipment that will enable our agents to service our global clients and engage with them in all possible communication channels,” he said.

Located in Pasong Tamo Extension, the new facility will house 2,600 seats, as well as top-notch IT solutions for Filipino agents to serve Alorica’s marquee clients using different channels such as voice, mobile, chat, social media and video.

Initially, the company invested $20.8 million as capital expenditure for its new location.

“Then, of course, you have to look at investment you make in employing people, which is part of your operating expenses. So it’s a significant amount of investment that we are putting in [there],” he said. The third site of Alorica in Makati, according to Borja, is also a milestone, as it recently underwent an acquisition of another major BPO player.

The company acquired EGS in July, forming a $2.3-billion global company. This development brings the headcount in the Philippines to a total of 28,700 at present.

“So we’re the third-largest BPO company here. And we’re happy to report that one of the first milestones we did after the acquisition was to sign up with this new building to cater for the new growth we are experiencing in the Philippines,” he said.

Alorica has also earmarked other locations in the Philippines and will invest in future growth not only in Metro Manila, but also in secondary cities outside the more established business district hubs.

The BPO firm operates in Laoag City—currently with 700 employees and soon will grow to about 1,300 people. Apart from Clark in Pampanga, it is also present in Angeles City with 1,300 people.

Its 10 locations in Metro Manila include Centris in Quezon City, with around 6,000 people; Marikina; Mezza in Santa Mesa; Cubao; Cybergate in Pioneer, Mandaluyong; and The Fort in Taguig City. Completing the metro sites are those in Makati, such as in Alphaland, Export Bank and the upcoming office in Pasong Tamo Extension.

Further south, Alorica is present in Alabang, with its own buildings in North Gate and Madrigal business district; as well as in Lipa, Batangas. In the Visayas region, it’s in Cebu. As for Mindanao, it employs about 900 people in Davao, and soon will grow with around 1,300 talents with the construction of its new building.

“So in a lot of the places you will see [us], and in all future expansions we are taking old buildings. We are not just taking floors in most or in office building; we’re trying to take old buildings now because of the fast growth we are experiencing,” Borja said.

Source: http://goo.gl/e39zh6