Patni Computer Systems, an IT and BPO services provider, has announced the establishment of a new North American hub for business process outsourcing operations in El Paso, Tex. The move was triggered by a multiyear, multimillion-dollar BPO services contract with a leading healthcare technology and services provider.

Adding the El Paso center follows through on the stated corporate strategy to invest in specific regions around the world and contribute toward generating economic opportunities in these regions. Patni has set a goal to increase the size and scope of its North American operations to adapt to market conditions that encourage the establishment of more onshore delivery capabilities.

Establishing the new service hub expands Patni's BPO and Knowledge Process Outsourcing (KPO) delivery capabilities to service North American customers from domestic locations in a cost-effective manner, deliver cost take-outs locally, and employ highly skilled local talent. When fully staffed, it will employ more than 300 skilled professionals providing a wide range of insurance, financial services, finance and accounting, technical support, and multilingual helpdesk services to Patni's North American clients.

Patni currently has three principal service delivery centers in the U.S. in Bloomington, Ill.; Milpitas, Calif.; and Cambridge, Mass., and is committed to adding more onshore delivery capabilities.

"We have embarked on a plan to expand our domestic operations to address evolving customer requirements for cost-effective services from onshore locations," says Naresh Lakhanpal, president of Patni Americas. "El Paso is a preferred domestic location possessing state-of-the-art infrastructure, cost advantages, a positive business climate, support from the local government, and a highly skilled work force."