Bangalore: Progeon Ltd, the BPO subsidiary of Infosys Technologies, today (Jan 29, 2004) said it has formed a strategic alliance with UK-based BPM firm Hazell Carr to offer customers in the life and pensions market in the UK an integrated onshore/offshore outsourcing option.

"Together, Hazell Carr and Progeon will also offer clients an integrated onshore/offshore outsourcing option, under which work can be performed at locations of both companies which are best suited for the client," a Progeon statement said in Bangalore.

Privately-held Hazell Carr, a business process management firm providing services to life assurance companies and corporates with pension schemes employs 800 people working for its customers who include Prudential, AMP, Legal and General and CIS.

Progeon said the alliance will provide customers in the country the dual advantage of Hazell Carr's domain knowledge and experience in this space as well as Progeon's technology expertise and process disciplines.

"The strength of Progeon's delivery model which enables us to provide our clients with high quality onsite/offshore policy administration at competitive prices was a feature that attracted us to Progeon. Together, I am sure, we will be able to offer our clients a unique proposition," Hazell Carr Chairman David Carr said.

"This is a fundamentally different business model from what is available in the market today. The combination of process skills, deep domain knowledge and a best shore operations model has unique benefits and far reaching implications for UK customers," Progeon CEO Akshaya Bhargava said.

Hazell Carr's areas of expertise include long-term BPO in group pensions administration as well as short-term outsourcing in areas such as endowment complaints. Through its subsidiary HCPC plc, it also provides final salary administration and advice for the trustees of pension schemes.

Progeon is focused on end-to-end outsourcing in banking, insurance, securities, finance and accounts and telecom segments.

It reported revenues of $ 13.43 million for the 12 months ended December 2003 and has 1,400 employees, 12 customer contracts and centres in Bangalore and Pune, with a centre in Brno in Czech Republic under implementation.