The Hindu Business Line : Scope, Cambridge Integrated tie up to offer 'knowledge services' for banks

(From right) Mr Jan Verplancke, CIO, Group Head-Technology and Operations, Standard Chartered Group; Mr Jaspal Bindra, General Manager-South East and South Asia, Standard Chartered Bank, India; and Mr Christopher Sinclair, Executive Chairman and CEO, Scandent Solutions Corp Ltd; at a press conference in Chennai on Thursday. - - Bijoy Ghosh

Chennai , Jan. 12

SCOPE International, a 100-per cent subsidiary of Standard Chartered Bank, UK, has formed a "knowledge partnership" with Cambridge Integrated Services, the business process outsourcing (BPO) arm of Scandent Solution Corporation.

Both would offer "knowledge" services, including transaction processing, to the banking and financial sector worldwide with a primary focus on the US, European and Australasian markets, Mr Jan Verplancke, Chief Information Officer, Group Head, Technology and Operations, Standard Chartered Group, told newspersons.

Scope, employing about 4,000 people, has the knowhow, managing a captive unit for Standard Chartered's multiple country operations. "Cambridge would leverage this knowhow by using our employees or designated employees from Scope in short or long term," said Mr Chris Sinclair, Executive-Chairman and CEO, Scandent Solutions.

Asked about the need for such an agreement, a Standard Chartered official said that Scope was the bank's captive unit and hence did not take up outside business. However, through the tie-up with Cambridge, Scope would teach Cambridge some tricks of the trade and, in turn, get paid for the consultants and other services.

Cambridge's employees, assisted by Scope's offshore operations, will provide banks an ideal solution to increase their profitability and focus their resources on growth and continued success, according to a joint press release.

During the first phase, Scope will provide infrastructure for about 350 seats and increase it to 1,000-1,500 in the medium term, the release says.

As per the agreement, Cambridge will directly interface with all customers and be responsible for all service level agreement and statements of work. It will also provide sales and delivery, which will be supported by Scope's knowhow in the banking industry. Additionally, Scope will designate as consultants some of its key employees to Cambridge Banking BPO Strategic Business Unit to assist in its formation and growth. All the transaction processing staff will be on the payroll of Cambridge, the release says.

Mr Jaspal Bindra, General Manager, South Asia, Standard Chartered Bank, said Scope employs about 10 per cent of the group's global workforce. The centre does about 80 million transactions a year and services all 56 countries of the Group.

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Scope, Cambridge Integrated tie up to offer 'knowledge services' for banks