Sterling Hoffman to expand in Vadodara

Canada-based human resource (HR) outsourcing major Sterling Hoffman Software Consultant is set to establish a 250-seat outsourcing facility in Vadodara. The company already has a 75-seat facility in the city.

Mike Mehta, president, Sterling Hoffman, is in India to finalize the recruitment, location and infrastructure facilities. The company has invested about $9,00,000 and plans to invest $2 million in the next two years. The new facility is likely to become operational by December 1 this year.

"After starting HR support, research and data entry divisions in Vadodara, we soon realized that outsourcing from India is a cost effective measure for the kind of services we are offering in US. The new facility with over 300 employees will be fully operational by the end of 2005," said Mehta.

Of the planned 250 seats, 50 seats will be voice based outsourcing to advice the clients' employees about the pay role, compensation, schemes, procedures and benefits offered by the respective employers. Rest of the employees will handle the HR research and support work.

The company will be able to save about 30 per cent on salary expenditure by expanding capacity at Vadodara rather than at major centres like Bangalore and Pune.

"Factors like low cost of infrastructural facilities compared with metros and low cost of living in Vadodara are inspiring factors for bringing the project here. We have found the necessary talent pool and are very optimistic about it for our expansion project. Moreover, we understand Gujarat as we have our roots in Gujarat," said Mehta who migrated to US about 30 years back.