Wipro to merge BPO arm, eyes high value deals

Wipro today said it would merge BPO subsidiary (Wipro Spectramind) with itself, while moving away to a high value transaction processing model
from the existing call centre focused business due to high demand from its clients.

"38% of our BPO business comes from our it clients. They want to get a single invoice. A merger will help us focus on delivering technology services," Raman Roy, CEO of Wipro BPO told reporters here. The new entity, which willbe a division of Wipro, will be called Wipro BPO.

Wipro BPO employs over 15,673 people in its centres in Mumbai, Pune and Delhi among others.Wipro BPO contributed 13% of Wipro's revenues of Rs 2,312 crore in the fourth quarter ended March 2005.

Wipro chairman Azim Premji said strategic transformation of the BPO business continued which apart from changing the revenue profile would see a tighter integration with its vertical businesses.

"This will help us in not only building domain competency in our BPO business, but also ensures a far superior go to market approach," he said.

Roy said the firm was eyeing the technology expertise within Wipro to tap the high value transaction processing model, while moving away from the call centre business.

"Our clients want us to offer technology based fulfilment services," he said.