SPi opens Chennai facility

Content outsourcing solutions provider SPi, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Philippines-based ePLDT, is looking at increasing its headcount in India to 2,000 over the next 6-8 months from the present 1,300. This expansion comes in the wake of increasing demands from its customers.

The company, which commenced operations in India in 2004, has opened a 17,000-sft facility in Chennai to house the operations of its publishing and healthcare businesses. Chennai has been made the headquarters for the company's publishing and healthcare businesses with delivery centres in Puducherry, New Delhi and Coimbatore.

The Chennai facility, which will have a seating capacity for about 1,100 people, will provide editorial and content production services for publishers of books, serials, and major reference books as well as medical transcription services and hospitals and clinics. The Chennai centre has already commenced operations with an initial staff strength of about 160 people.

SPi's Coimbatore facility focuses on medical transcription work with an employee strength of 400, expected to be scaled up to 1,000 this year.

Addressing a press conference, Ernest L Cu, president and chief executive officer, SPi, said the company was keen to grow through the inorganic route in India and would explore acquisition of companies which would bring in new offerings for its customers. "We have solid financial back-up from our parent company and we will have $50-$100 million available to us for mergers and acquisitions every year," he added.

The company is also exploring the option of moving its medical billing and revenue cycle management services from the US to Asia as part of its strategy to make Asia a hub for its offshore and delivery operations.

SPi, a global editorial and content production vendor in the STM (science, technology and medical) publishing outsourcing space, has facilities in the US, Europe, Phillippines, China and Vietnam for its BPO operations. It expects to carry out low-end work at its Vietnam operations, while the Philippines and Indian operations will focus on high-end solutions in the long run.

Revenues from SPi's global BPO operations, both voice and non-voice, are expected to reach $200 million (now $130 million) by the end of 2007.