TeleTech to open facilities in Cavite, Iloilo

Business process outsourcing company TeleTech Holdings, Inc. is set to open two more provincial facilities in Cavite and Iloilo later this year, the company’s ninth and 10th facilities in the country. The facilities will be located inside SM malls in Bacoor, Cavite, and Iloilo. The Bacoor site can fit up to 1,300 seats while the Iloilo site can fit up to 650 seats. The new facilities are designed to complement the company’s existing 7,000-seat operation with work force of about 12,000. In a press briefing Wednesday, Maulik Parekh, vice-president and general manager for Asia, said the move was part of its strategy to tap provincial locations and was "proof" of the world-class talent of Filipinos. "We build centers outside Metro Manila to bring jobs to where people live," Mr. Parekh said, noting that what differentiates the company from the rest of the industry players is its "locator strategy" or preference for provincial locations. "About 90% of the call centers now are in Makati, Ortigas and in Eastwood [in Quezon City]. About 20% to 30% of their work force have uprooted themselves from their home provinces," Mr. Parekh said. Mr. Parekh said Teletech’s Philippine operations have been experiencing significant growth since it was established in the country in 2003. "We have the biggest footprint in the country with eight sites, 70,000 square meters of lease space and total workstations of 7,000," Mr. Parekh said. "We have been growing 150% year on year. From 5,000 employees as of end-2005, the company managed to grow the work force to 10,000 in exactly a year," he added. Its facilities in Metro Manila are in Robinsons Big R Super-center mall in Cainta, Rizal; Robinsons mall in Novaliches; BayCity in Pasay City; and in Fort Bonifacio Global City in Taguig, Muntinlupa. Outside Metro Manila, the company has facilities in Lipa, Batangas; Bacolod City; Dumaguete City; and Cebu. - Maricel E. Estavillo/BusinessWorld