INFOMATE: ENGINEERING GROWTH AND GLOBAL EXPANSION

Jehan Perinpanayagam, Chief Executive Officer at Infomate, a pioneering BPM company and leading BPM export earner of the John Keells Group, outlines his vision for Infomate as the Sri Lankan economy enters a watershed moment with the passage of the IMF programme in March 2023.

According to Perinpanayagam, Sri Lanka’s economic recovery has exceeded expectations, with recent months witnessing a faster-than-anticipated rebound. The IMF deal reflects the international community’s confidence in Sri Lanka’s recovery plan. Previously delayed structural reforms are progressing at an accelerated pace, indicating a radical rethink and the implementation of a much-needed reset in response to the current crisis.

Tax reforms, restructuring of stateowned enterprises, and the passage of crucial legislation, such as an anti-corruption bill, are all commendable changes that will pave the way for a brighter future. Despite past missteps, Sri Lanka’s inherent potential remains promising, buoyed by its strategic location and natural resource, Perinpanayagam stated.

The IMF funds will also unlock additional financial sources from institutions such as the ADB and World Bank. Furthermore, tourist “Amidst cautious optimism, it is heartening to see a positive shift in perception among stakeholders, including my colleagues in JKH and from SLASSCOM. With an unwavering determination to deliver on commitments and exceed expectations and the inherent resilience of our people, Sri Lanka has the potential to compete on the global stage,” Perinpanayagam says in this interview.

“We understand the need to shift the economy to an export-oriented one and in this regard, we are making aggressive investments to attract new international clients. Infomate is already amongst the top six BPO exporters in the nation and we already serve world-class brands globally, including the UK, Australia, the US, and Sweden. We will now be stepping up our efforts and are ready to invest aggressively in our future, aiming to contribute to the growth of the export economy by more than doubling our workforce and export revenue earnings by 2025 by growing our third-party work internationally and investing more in technology, particularly in RPA, AI, and data science”.

How can Infomate inspire other companies to create growth opportunities under challenging conditions?

Our unwavering commitment to making a meaningful difference sets us apart. From making a difference to our customers, our staff, the community and our country, we have been a pioneer and blazed a path with passion and purpose. Our success in finding opportunities during challenging times and developing homegrown, world-class solutions is another area where we excel.

Our rural BPO projects have created employment opportunities by handling 50% of John Keells Holdings’ accounting work in three rural and provincial centres. We have also prioritized ESG initiatives with plans to achieve carbon neutrality by 2025 through rigorous carbon footprint measurement, efforts to reduce our carbon footprint and our tree planting campaigns.

Furthermore, our focus on employee well-being, including mental and physical health – along with initiatives to support underprivileged schools and institutions, equipping children from disadvantaged backgrounds with career and life skills – is a testament to our commitment to sustainable and responsible business practices. Notably, our emphasis on gender equality, with 60% female participation in our workforce, and our utilization of international methodologies and quality frameworks, coupled with our training programme which we have titled internally as an “Infomate university” to equip our team with world-class learning and development, distinguishes us as a pioneering force. We are proud of our achievements and hope to inspire other companies to follow our lead.

In your view, what are some of the misconceptions or myths Sri Lanka would have to resolve to become a technology hub for the region?

Sri Lanka, known for its natural beauty and traditional agriculture-based industries, must reinvent itself as a high-tech, knowledge-intensive hub. Despite myriad challenges, success stories like WNS, HSBC, and HCL which have located their global delivery centres in Sri Lanka demonstrate that doing business can be easy and pleasant. However, better marketing, branding, and positioning are needed to shed the label of a “hidden” gem and fully tap into the country’s potential I do hope we will be a discovered and highly sought-after gem.

Despite the tough times, Sri Lanka has shown resilience and experienced tremendous growth in the IT-BPM industry, with plans for aggressive expansion and marketing. The younger workforce is encouraged to explore opportunities in this sector, while the government must continue its transformational work and avoid reverting to old ways. A servant/ leadership mindset, where leaders serve the public, is crucial to meet the responsibility towards future generations. On the education front, we look forward to incorporating more ICT in the syllabus, improving English language proficiency, and implementing practical programs to enhance youth employability.

The tax regime requires careful management. While we acknowledge the need for reforms, certain adjustments are necessary to retain top talent and promote education in this knowledge services industry. Our industry proposals include expenditure relief for education expenditure and expanding tax slabs. Moreover, we emphasize the importance of stable governance, Ease of Doing Business, and combating corruption to attract foreign investment and establish a favourable business environment.

In addition, compliance requirements for new entrants, such as environmental clearance which is less relevant, must be tailored for the IT-BPM industry, with streamlined approval processes and competitive rates for utilities like fuel and electricity. We eagerly anticipate working with the government to address these challenges and drive the industry forward.

The final request is for overseas companies and friends of Sri Lanka to visit, support, and collaborate with the country. Sri Lanka’s IT-BPM industry offers abundant opportunities, and with collective efforts, the nation can achieve its true potential and deliver a brighter future.