Region’s first KPO sets up base at Chandigarh IT Park

Chandigarh, February 4 It’s not just infrastructure offered by information technology (IT) parks, but also low attrition rate in Chandigarh that is drawing IT companies to the tri-city. UK-based Heron Health, the first KPO (knowledge process outsourcing) company to set up base in the region (IT Park, Chandigarh) said the potential to recruit and retain a rich pool of top quality professionals is why they are here. Interestingly, IT company Tech Mahindra, too, had recently listed lowest attrition rate at its Chandigarh Centre as an important factor for opening a campus at Chandigarh IT Park.

“Our industry is knowledge based and we need people who can be retained,” said Heron directors Paul Howard and Chris Knight, adding that institutions such as NIPER, Panjab University, PGI, etc. consistently produce top quality medical staff and the office in Chandigarh will be the largest operational centre of the company.

Heron Health, which is into analyzing and interpreting information for the pharma industry, caters to multinationals such as GSK, Pfizer, Johnson and Johnson, among others. “Unlike business process outsourcing (BPO) companies we are here not to cut costs but increase capacity and are offering the best reward package in the industry to our staff,” its country head Manek Shergill added.

Mainly getting revenues from the US and Europe, Heron is now exploring India and other Asian countries. It intends to have a staff of 300 at its Chandigarh office in the next three years from the present 28 and to open another centre in the city.