From correspondents in Karnataka, India, 12:32 AM IST

Global software major Wipro Ltd has set up a business process outsourcing (BPO) centre at Curitiba in Brazil to provide shared services to AmBev, the largest brewery in Latin America, the IT bellwether said here late Friday.

The shared services will be in finance and accounting, order management, customer care and HR (human resource) activity spanning AmBev's operations across Latin America, the Bangalore-based company said in a statement.

"We have expertise in delivering process specific solutions in finance and amp; accounting, procurement, HR services, loyalty services and knowledge services. Our capability to transform processes, implement SAP and provide world class service delivery is a strength unmatched by competition," Wipro BPO head Ashutosh Vaidya said.

AmBev zonal vice president Renato Nahas Batista said the partnership with Wipro would transform his company's shared service centre across the southern continent.

"We are honoured to be a part of Wipro's expansion plans in Brazil and Latin America," Batista noted.

AmBev is reputed in South America's brewery business with leading brands like Brahma, Becks, Stella and Antarctica.

"The partnership will accrue significant financial benefits and leverage transformation opportunities across AmBev operations in the region," Vaidya added.

Wipro's consumer products' division has a team for food and amp; beverage industry with about 400 associates. The division focuses on helping F and amp;B companies re-engineer the way they meet end-consumer's needs through IT solutions, the statement pointed out.

Wipro's BPO division has 20,000 people operating from nine different locations in India and Eastern Europe. It services customers in diverse industries, including banking and amp; capital markets, insurance, travel and amp; hospitality, hi-tech manufacturing, telecom and amp; healthcare sectors.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)