Global outsourcing major Lionbridge Technologies will shift around 40 per cent of its US and UK processes to India and China in the next 3 years, banking on the talent pool and quality of services available in these countries.
The Nasdaq-listed company is also scouting for acquisitions in the country, even as it is looking to double headcount from the present 1,200 to meet an expected increase in business.
"We will shift some of our existing processes to India and China, to capitalise on the tremendous amount of productivity access and skills available. Access to talent, productivity and assurance of quality and processes are some of the other reasons for the move," said Satish Maripuri, CEO (Americas & Asia), Lionbridge Technologies.
Of the total 40 per cent processes, the company intends to transfer two thirds of the work to India and the remaining to China.
Lionbridge had posted total revenues of $400 million last fiscal and going by these figures it would mean that $40 million would be offshored to India and China, with the former getting over $30 million of the total processes.
Maripuri did not divulge the exact quantum in revenue terms that would be outsourced to both the countries.
At present, the company conducts outsources processes like testing, localisation, desktop publishing and quality assurance among others from its Mumbai and Chennai centres.
India contributed around $32 million in 2005 to Lionbridge's revenues. According to Maripuri, India has good language skills while China has good infrastructure and this could enable the company to cut down costs.
In line with moving the processes, the company is also looking to add 1,200 new staff in the next couple of years. Lionbridge intends to add close to a "couple of 100 people" every month.
The company is also mulling of acquiring firms with similar capabilities and domain knowledge, and is believed to be in advanced stages of negotiations.
However, Maripuri did not reveal the names of the companies Lionbridge was in discussion with, nor revealed the amount earmarked for the acquisitions.
