Diageo has teamed up with Genpact, an India-based provider of business process management and technology services, to open a shared services centre in Bogota, Colombia.

The new service centre is a part of Diageo’s strategy over the past decade to focus on driving sustainability and operating cost efficiencies, improving customer service levels and operating process controls.

Located in the Fontibon section of Bogota’s Free Trade Zone in the Zona Franca business park, the new centre will allow Diageo to manage its finance and accounting (F&A) operations in Latin America and also in emerging markets like Africa.

The F&A processes of Diageo were previously managed by multiple Latin American countries, however all these activities will now be consolidated into the new centre in Bogota with the help from Genpact.

To come up with such public-private entity, both Diageo and Genpact have worked with the Colombian Central and local Governments like the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, the National Taxes and Customs Office, Bogotá Mayor’s Office and business organisations such as Invest in Bogotá and Proexport.

Diageo commercial director Gregorio Gutierrez said establishing the shared services centre in Bogotá was ideal for Diageo given its strong existing ties and confidence in the country, the offer of talented workforce, and the open investment opportunities that they have seen for the last few years and that ratify its commitment for the long term.

"By bringing Genpact with us to develop this shared services center model, we will be able to consolidate and improve our Latin American F&A functions with Genpact’s process and operations expertise, enabling us to focus on our core business so that we can further expand in the region and more effectively serve our internal and external clients," Gutierrez added.

Genpact vice chairman Pramod Bhasin said Genpact’s expansion of operations into Colombia further supports its strategy of bringing their global business process management expertise to rapidly-growing economies.

"The local governments and economic development organizations here have been extremely valuable partners in helping Genpact and Diageo establish this world-class shared services center," Bhasin added.