Nipuna certified for eSCM-SP level 4

Plans to up headcount to 2,500 by fiscal end

Nipuna Services Limited, the business process outsourcing (BPO) arm of Satyam Computer Services Limited, has become the world's first BPO services company to achieve eSCM-SP (eSourcing Capability Model for Service Providers) capability level 4 certification.

eSCM-SP is a quality model developed by the IT Services Qualification Centre at Carnegie Mellon University. This apart, Nipuna plans to increase its headcount to 2,500 from the present 1,600 by the end of this fiscal.

Addressing a press conference, B Ramalinga Raju, chairman of Satyam Computer Services Limited, said, "We are the first company in the world to get the level 4 certification for eSCM-SP. At this level, we will not only sustain our performance levels but also enhance them."

In order to be certified for eSCM-SP, a service provider needs to demonstrate its capabilities across 10 areas like knowledge management, threat management, contracting, service design and deployment etc.

The model has over 1,200 requirements that are used as the basis of evaluation. Further ahead, to get level 5 certification, the service providers need to effectively implement all levels for two or more consecutive certification evaluations for a period of at least two years.

Venkatesh Roddam, chief executive officer, Nipuna Services Limited, said, "We will be increasing our headcount to 2,500 by March 2006 from 1,600 at present. Besides, we are looking at major investments in the knowledge process outsourcing vertical. In the next three-six months, we will have adequate amount of traction in this area."

Nipuna operates in areas like insurance, telecom, energy, healthcare and media and expects a growth of 80 per cent this year.