By Luke Bujarski
The next-generation of outsourcers could soon be relocating to a place most of us only hear about after the news of some high-profile tax scandal hits the morning papers. With only 55,000 inhabitants, it doesn’t take long to realize that the Cayman Islands will never be Latin America’s BPO workhorse. Yet, this has not stopped real estate group Cayman City Enterprise from working with the local authority to build out a 50-acre business park catering to, among other niche industries, outsourced services firms.
A Renewed Jamaica Proclaims “We’re Open for Business”
March 6th, 2012The Jamaica Investment Forum – held last week in Montego Bay – was easily one of the most polished and well-executed investor’s conferences we’ve seen in a while in the Nearshore industry. Built to highlight a range of investment opportunities, including energy, tourism, manufacturing and BPO – Jamaica put its best foot forward by highlighting the positive. “We have to work with the hand we’ve been dealt,” said Prime Minster Portia Simpson-Miller, emphasizing her desire to boost the country’s competitiveness. Over 600 investors participated in the three-day program. Click “more” to see our slideshow.
Convergys to Open its First Jamaican Contact Center
December 7th, 2011– Company will provide employment for nearly 1,000 when fully staffed –
Convergys Corporation (NYSE: CVG), one of the largest agent-assisted customer service companies in the world, and the Jamaican Government announced today plans to open the first Convergys Jamaican contact center. The center will be located in Montego Bay, and will employ nearly 1,000 people when fully staffed in 2012.
The Jamaican government strongly supports its BPO industry as part of its economic growth plans, and Montego Bay is the country’s hub for BPO providers, where most of Jamaica’s 30-plus BPO companies currently operate.
“We are very pleased to welcome Convergys to Jamaica,” notes Dr. Christopher Tufton, Jamaica’s Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce. “Known worldwide for providing multinational companies with highly effective and reliable customer management services and solutions, Convergys offers Jamaicans new employment and career opportunities in an industry with a bright future in Jamaica. Moreover, more jobs …
Cash Strapped Businesses Look to Benefits Administration Outsourcing
October 13th, 2011By Patrick Haller
When a market grows 12.5% in one year and accounts for $5.4 billion, as did Business Administration Outsourcing (BAO) between 2010 and 2011, it is a clear indicator that momentum is growing and shows no signs of slowing down. The continued complexity and administrative burdens of Benefits Administration push buyers to look for options. Employers are increasingly turning to outsourcers for the management of three key aspects of their benefits package: Health & Welfare (H&W), Defined Benefits (DB) and Defined Contributions (DC).
EffectiveSite Expands in Jamaica
October 5th, 2011Riding its record success and growth in 2011, RealDecoy is expanding its offices in Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver and especially its subsidiary, EffectiveSite, in Kingston, Jamaica. The company is expanding its Jamaican office an incredible 800 percent to accommodate plans to grow employee numbers by 500 percent. This, along with significant expansion across its other locations, is in keeping with the company’s on-going growth expectations. RealDecoy enables organizations of all sizes to maximize their web presence in order to achieve vital business objectives. They provide end-to-end web technology expertise around agile business intelligence, content management, ecommerce, enterprise and faceted search, and managed services.
Overall the number of employees at RealDecoy grew by 50 percent in 2011, coinciding with a remarkable 90 percent increase in revenue. Currently the company has 44 openings available and anticipates an ongoing need for increased staffing in the year ahead. The new facilities can accommodate RealDecoy’s immediate growth …
BPO Means Big Business in Jamaica
August 8th, 2011Source: Caribbean 360
Government will over the next few weeks unveil a five-point plan aimed at expanding Jamaica’s information and communications technology (ICT)/business process outsourcing (BPO) sector, Industry, Investment and Commerce Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton, has announced.
This, he says, is with a view to doubling the number of jobs the sector currently provides, as well as enhancing the industry’s global competitiveness.
Dr. Tufton told a media briefing yesterday that the US$145 million local BPO industry accounts for six percent of the Caribbean and Latin American market, which is valued at US$2.5 billion.
The Minister said the local sector, which comprises approximately 26 firms, accounts for nearly 11,000 full time jobs.
He noted that analysts conservatively estimate that Jamaica’s ICT/BPO sector must grow at a compounded rate of between 20 and 21 percent per annum over the next four to five years, in order to remain competitive regionally.
Pointing out that at the …
A rising Central America nation feels like home – sort of. Second of two-part analysis.
By Jeff Pappas
Even if you’re a world traveler with a bazillion frequent-flier miles, chances are that you’ll be fascinated by your first glimpses of Belize, the little English-speaking country on the Caribbean coast of Central America.
Jamaica Promotion Group Seeks to Woo Investors
June 24th, 2011Major investment opportunities from targeted sectors in Jamaica will be presented to key players in the Canadian business community at the Invest in Jamaica forum organised by the Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO) at the Delta Chelsea Hotel in Toronto.
The forum, which will feature Industry, Investment and Commerce Minister Karl Samuda as the keynote speaker, will include roundtable discussions and specially arranged one-on-one meetings on investment in infrastructure development, information and communications technology (ICT) and manufacturing.
The Jamaican delegation at the event will seek to engage key Canadian business interests and present the island as a viable investment destination with potentially lucrative opportunities, a business-friendly environment and attractive incentives.
Sancia Bennett Templer, president of JAMPRO, and Milverton Reynolds, managing director of the Development Bank of Jamaica, are slated to speak on privatisation and infrastructure investment projects, which include the Caymanas Economic Zone, airports and aerodromes and a renowned Jamaica …
Is Chronic Absenteeism Undermining Barbados Call Centers?
June 24th, 2011
By Patrick Haller
While Invest Barbados paints a picture of an investment climate as lovely as one of the island’s beaches, the reality –according to a senior executive who has operated a facility on the island for many years– is more like a storm than a cool breeze.
Nearshore Americas recently published a story that quoted Ezra Catwell, Investment Promotion and Facilitation Manager at Invest Barbados. “We have definitely seen a decline in the companies coming to Barbados, mainly because of the anti-offshoring movement in the US. But we’re confident we can move up into high level services like software and BPO. Right now we actually have more trained people than the demand.” Is that all there is to the story?
Caribbean IT Talent Supply: Can Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Barbados Go Higher Value?
March 4th, 2011
Well known for tourism, but how does the Caribbean fare in IT services?
By Tarun George
Traditionally a region reputed for call center and voice support work, the governments and promotion agencies of the Caribbean have been pushing to move up the value chain into higher level services. The arguments for time zone, proximity and cultural affinity are quite valid for the Caribbean, perhaps more so than for Latin America.
The question is how serious is the demand for Caribbean IT services from a nearshore services perspective? And are there enough technically skilled workers to satisfy that demand? We spoke with top contacts in three Caribbean countries – the Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Barbados – to get the answers.
