IT operations management software provider SolarWinds inaugurated its new IT shared service center (SSC) in the Philippines to enable the company to continue expanding and enhancing its global operations, supporting a diverse number of business functions.
Situated at the Ecotower Building in Bonifacio Global City, the Metro Manila-based center complements SolarWinds’ existing global network of support centers located in the US, Singapore and North American sites in providing the highest level of support services to their clients. Other SolarWinds support facilities are located in Canada, India, Ireland, Australia, Netherlands, and in Czech Republic.
John Kelly, VP for International Technical Support, SolarWinds
SolarWinds opened its newest center in a formal ceremony presided by SolarWinds Vice president for International Technical Support John Kelly, in the presence of Allan Sahagun, Director, Philippine Operations of SolarWinds; Elmer San Pascual, Promotions and PR Group Manager of Philippine Export Zone Authority; and Genny Marcial, Executive Director of IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP).
According to SolarWinds Vice president for International Technical Support John Kelly, the expansion in Manila is a great addition to their existing facilities globally. He also said that SolarWinds has chosen Manila as the site of their newest shared services facility because of the tremendous support they received from the local government and agencies particularly the Philippine Export Processing Authority, and the availability of educated talents. Kelly mentioned that according to an IBM report, the Philippines was rated second after Costa Rica in terms of IT shared services talents.
The new market will be far more than a business processing outsourcing (BPO) site, which is typical of most operations in the area. Kelly said the Philippine center will support a wide range of core strategic functions including product and technical support to customers; optimize user product; sales, finance and operations supporting global customers.
The Philippine center boasts a 170 to 180 seating capacity, 134 of these have been occupied. “Hopefully the seats will be filled up next year,” Kelly said. “It all depends on how quick they find the qualified talents.”
Allan Sahagun, Director, SolarWinds’ Philippine Operations, said they recruit qualified engineers with five years experience for network engineers, system administrators, IT helpdesk, technical writers, and they also hire finance and sales personnel.
Kelly mentioned that the activities to be done in the Manila shared service facility are core operations that will support global customers. “We need additional sales people in Asia to support US customers,” he says.
Meanwhile, in a speech of PEZA Director General Lilia de Lima that was delivered by San Pascual, she lauded the establishment of SolarWinds in the Philippines saying they are grateful that the company has chosen the Philippines and PEZA to be one of its growing numbers of facilities worldwide. “I must say that SolarWinds had made the right choice,” De Lima said.
De Lima also said that SolarWinds has defied the difficult and expensive use of IT management tools and products by delivering IT management software that was unexpected in the Philippines. Hence, Solarwinds now provides powerful and affordable IT operations to the growing number of fully-satisfied customers worldwide.
For their part, Genny Marcial, Executive Director of IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP), said IBPAP will provide support to the industry as they have partnered with educational institutions for talent development. IBPAP is promoting this endeavor designed to develop and equip talents with knowledge and skills for the industry.
Regarding talent availability, Kelly said the company plans to develop relationship and shares with local universities and colleges the SolarWinds technology.
Established in 1998, SolarWinds provides its more than 150,000 customers in more than 170 countries worldwide with a comprehensive range of software offerings including enterprise-class network management, systems and application management, storage resource management, IT security management, and virtualization management products, entry-level IT monitoring products and a wide array of software tools for IT professionals.
