HCL BPO plans to buy non-voice player

HCL BPO Services, as part of its strategy to move away from voice-based services, is looking at acquiring a company which manages claims, undertakes billing and record-keeping work for health insurance companies.

"The company, as part of its plan to diversify into new verticals, is entering into healthcare and would focus primarily on high-end services," said Ranjit Narasimhan, chief executive officer. He added that the company was looking at acquiring a mid-sized company.

Currently, only 30 per cent of the work done by HCL BPO Services was non voice-based and does not have a presence in legal outsourcing and healthcare segment. The company is, however, hoping to increase this share by venturing into the health insurance segment.

HCL BPO Services is also building capacity by setting new centres in Noida and Chennai in the next six months.

"Within the next six months, the company will open centres in Noida and Chennai which will house 2,500 employees, added Narsimhan.

The company's Chennai centre, which will open in December, will cater to a single client in the United States and will be a technical centre.

The company, according to its strategy to expand in non voice-based services, will offer high-end technical services to the client, said Narsimhan.

As part of its plan to increase its workforce from 7,000 at present to 40,000 by 2008, HCL BPO Services is also setting up centres in Pune, Coimbatore and Pondicherry over the next 12 months.