HLL to expand BPO unit

FMCG major Hindustan Lever Ltd's (HLL) BPO operations in Chennai is poised for a major ramp up in the coming months.

National Centre for Sales Commercial (NCSC), as this BPO operation is called, is increasing its head count to 200 from the present head count in the vicinity of 20. NCSC operations, which has been carried out from HLL regional office, is now being shifted to a 15,000 sq ft space in a central business district in Chennai.

HLL spokes person, while admitting the shifting of NCSC to a much larger space, refused to comment on the head count. Sources in the know of HLL's BPO operations said that the head count was only 20 until a few weeks ago. HLL did not confirm the estimated expansion of operations to a head count of 200. However, industry standard for a BPO unit is estimated at 60 sq ft to 75 sq ft per person while it is 100 sq ft for software services. The new premise of 15,000 sq ft works out to a capacity of 200 people.

In 2003, Hindustan Lever Limited (HLL) had set up its 'National Centre for Sales Commercial' in Chennai.