Because companies dedicated to the provision of services are more effective than product manufacturers and their growth is more accelerated, economies such as those of Central America could bet on the outsourcing of technology services.
In this context of sanitary and economic crisis, generated by the covid-19 outbreak, several economic sectors were affected due to the restrictions imposed, but, in contrast, companies involved in the provision of technological services reported a significant growth.
Due to the precariousness of the English language, in recent years’ companies in the Contact Center & BPO sector have decided to close thousands of jobs in the region and relocate their investments to other markets where they have no difficulty in recruiting qualified personnel.
Reports at a global level show that the command of English is one of the weaknesses at a Central American level.
During the last year, Contact Center and BPO service sector exports were estimated at $600 million, 12% less than the $720 million reported the previous year.
Some of the factors influencing the failure to reach the job creation projection include the fact that no English language skills have been generated in young people, and at the time of the forecasts the exchange rate in the country was Q8.2 to one dollar, and now the rate has dropped to Q7.7.
From March 15 to 16 more than 400 local and international companies in the service sector will be holding business meetings during the OUTSOURCE2LAC business forum in San Jose, Costa Rica.
From a statement issued by PROCOMER:
San Jose, March 3, 2017.The largest gathering of service companies based on knowledge of Latin America will be meeting in San Jose, Costa Rica, on March 15 and 16.OUTSOURCE2LAC is a business conference organized by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Foreign Trade Promotion Office of Costa Rica (PROCOMER), which aims to share best practices and experiences of the sector and to promote the creation of opportunities for business and investment for SMEs in Latin America and the Caribbean.
EGS Guatemala has announced the expansion of operations in customer services, billing and back offices for telecommunications and energy.
From a statement issued by the Ministry of Finance in Guatemala:
Guatemala, March 15, 2016. The Minister of Economy, Ruben Morales, participated in the inauguration of EGS's third site in Guatemala, Primma 2. This company belongs to the call center and BPO sector, one of the two sectors covered by Decree Law 19-2016.
The legislature has finally passed the Employment Act granting exemptions for 10 years for call centers and maquilas operating in the country.
From a statement issued by the Congress of Guatemala:
With 113 votes in favor, members of the National Emergency Congress approved Decree 19-2016, Emerging Act for the Conservation of Employment, which exempts import tax for 10 years for call centers and maquilas operating in the country .
In 2016 the Latin American forum that brings together over 500 companies from the service industry will be held in San Jose.
From a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Trade of Costa Rica:
San Jose, Costa Rica, November 26, 2015: The Ministry of Foreign Trade (COMEX), the Foreign Trade Promotion Office (PROCOMER) and the Costa Rican Coalition for Development Initiatives (CINDE), announced that the IDB has named Costa Rica as the host for 2016 for one of the most important events in Latin America for the corporate services industry: "OUTSOURCE2LAC". The decision was made official last week, during the fifth edition of the forum, held in Guadalajara, Mexico.
During 2014 the industry for business process outsourcing generated sales of $397 million, an increase of 15% compared to 2013.
From a statement issued by the Guatemalan Exporters Association (-AGEXPORT-):
Entrepreneurs in the IT & BPO sector at AGEXPORT, made up of enterprises working in Software Development, Development and Digital Content, Contact Centers and BPO's, announced that at the close of 2014 there was growth of 15%, positioning Guatemala as emerging market in the industry of outsourcing services.
Between 2009 and 2013 the revenues generated by the sector which outsources business services increased from $225 million to $650 million at the end of 2013.
For the development of this industry to continue "... Invest in Guatemala together with other institutions has designed a strategy with a vision for 2020 ", with the aim of achieving, over a period of five years, the generation of $2.3 billion in services and thus contribute 3.57% to the gross domestic product (GDP).
The event to be held on November 12th and 13th in Guatemala City will bring together companies in the outsourcing services sector and will feature conferences and business meetings.
From a statement issued by the Guatemalan Exporters Association (Agexport):
The fourth edition of the most popular and influential forum on Outsourcing and Offshoring of Latin America and the Outsource2Lac 2014 will be held on 12 and 13 November 2014 in Guatemala.
There are 285 multinational companies operating in the region, employing more than 87,000 bilingual people.
The figure was revealed by Javier Chamorro, executive director of ProNicaragua, during the Central American Nearshore Summit 2013, which is being held in the Central American nation.
"Costa Rica and Guatemala are the two nations that have attracted the largest number of companies in the outsourcing industry, with a total of 191.
The company has announced it will reduce the number of its customer service centers from 11-3 , and in Guatemala it has hired BPO services from Xerox.
The firm Xerox will be responsible for business process outsourcing (BPO) services for Guatemala where it is projected that 215 jobs will be created.
According to Federico Medinilla, manager of Xerox, "the cruise operator has been divided into three units: Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises. The call center in Guatemala will handle the customer service aspect for the three companies. "
From 3 to 5 December, the next Latin America Outsourcing Services Conference by the International Association of Outsourcing Professionals will be held in Costa Rica
From a press release by the Costa Rican Coalition for Development Initiatives (CINDE):
The Costa Rican Coalition for Development Initiatives (CINDE) publicly announces that Costa Rica will host the next Latin America Outsourcing Services Conference by the International Association of Outsourcing Professionals (IAPO). The selection of Costa Rica is a result of the development of the services sector and the recent addition of the country as a member of the IAOP, an organization that brings together more than 120,000 associates around the world and is co-organizing this event along with CINDE, a conference which is considered the most important in the Latin American region for outsourcing services.