Capgemini opens software unit

Capgemini, opened its 600-seat offshore centre in Bangalore on Wednesday.

The facility, second in India after Mumbai for the Euro 5.75 billion consulting, technology and outsourcing services major, will function as an accelerated delivery and application management services centre.

The infrastructure management services segment though, will be restricted to Mumbai for now.

Giles Taldu, global delivery manager and member of the company's group management committee, said, "India will be a core offshore application package and outsourcing location for us."

The success at Mumbai had led the company to tap the talented and cost-effective workforce in Bangalore, he added. While the Bangalore centre has an employee strength of 100 now, Capgemini hopes to fill it to capacity by the first half of 2005.

Baru Rao, CEO, Capgemini India said that employee addition will be part of the company's plan to take the India headcount to 2,000 by 2004-end from 400 in early 2003. With this ramp up, India's contribution to APAC business will increase. Currently, India accounts for 1,850 of the company's 2,467 workforce in the region.

In India, the company said that it will still seek to grow in Mumbai. In fact, Baru Rao said Capgemini is scouting for new locations in Mumbai.The move into Bangalore follows two major outsourcing deals signed by the company recently.