After a hiatus, Cognizant enters BPO

BANGALORE: IT services provider, Cognizant Technology Solutions has finally set foot in to the BPO sector by signing a multi-year relationship with Pfizer Global Research and Development (PGRD) to provide business process outsourcing solutions in the area of clinical data management and biometrics. This relationship allows Pfizer to leverage a rich talent pool while capturing the unique "cost-productivity" advantage India offers.

The Pfizer India Biometrics Division has been providing Data Capture, Data Management, Statistics and Programming services for its parent's Phase I, II, III global trials for seven years. It has been known for its on-time and quality delivery, with error rates that are among the lowest worldwide.

After having announced its entry in to the BPO segment in 2003, this is the first customer that Cognizant has signed for its IT enabled services. The company had hired industry veteran, R Bhatnagar, to head its BPO division back in 2002. Subsequently, Bhatnagar joined ICICI Onesource, one of the largest third party BPO service provider in India.

"Cognizant's deep understanding of strategic pharmaceutical business processes and leadership position in the IT services segment of health care and life-sciences industry were key factors in Pfizer's decision to select Cognizant as the company's preferred provider for their BPO initiative," said Lakshmi Narayanan, President and CEO of Cognizant. "Our expertise in software and systems development and integration has provided Cognizant with a strong platform for developing a vertical BPO service to Pfizer."

"Cognizant has extensive experience in life sciences including clinical trial study set-up and validation and data management that are compliant with international standards of good clinical practices (GCP) as defined by the FDA.That coupled with Cognizant's rich domain, technology, and business process expertise in the health care and life-sciences industry positions this new relationship with Pfizer for success," said Hocine Sidi Said, Country Manager, Pfizer India.