Caribbean Outsourcing – How the BPO Sector is Growing in the Caribbean
For many third-world countries, the BPO industry is extremely helpful, providing a multitude of benefits to curb the high unemployment rates. The Caribbean region has profited immensely from the introduction of this sector. Let’s explore the various ways the BPO industry is growing in the Caribbean and the Caribbean Outsourcing scene.
Types of BPOs
Based on their location, BPO organizations can be categorized into numerous types:
- Onshore outsourcing is when a company employs a service provider based in the same nation. Another name for it is domestic outsourcing.
- When a company employs a service provider in a nearby nation, this is referred to as nearshore outsourcing.
- When a company employs a service provider in another nation, this practice is known as offshore outsourcing. Another name for it is offshore.
The Growth of BPO and Caribbean Outsourcing
Countries in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) have been pushing themselves as excellent near-shore locations for business process outsourcing (BPO) for several years now as they work to diversify and expand their economies.
BPOs offer both front and back-office services, including call centers for customer care, technical support, sales, and marketing, as well as back-office services like accounting, payroll management, bill payment, human resource management, and information technology.
In countries like Jamaica, Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, the Bahamas, Barbados, Dominica, Suriname, Grenada, Guyana, Saint Lucia, and Trinidad and Tobago, BPOs are attracted by
- high levels of unemployment
- more flexible labor regulations
- reduced pay costs
- government incentives
- closeness to the US and Canada
- competency in English and other languages (Spanish and French)
Background of BPOs in the Caribbean
Over the past three years, the Caribbean region has drawn more than 20 brand-new call centers that are controlled by foreign companies.
Large investors include DHL, Xerox, IBEX Global Solutions, Cimpress (Vistaprint), Open Mobile, Health Center Benefits, Convergys and Acquire BPO (Dominican Republic), Qualfon and Teleperformance (Guyana), and Cable and Wireless globally (Jamaica).
The Bahamas, Barbados, and other parts of the area are currently adding more BPO segments such as finance & accounting outsourcing, human resources outsourcing, and legal process outsourcing.
The Importance of BPOs and Caribbean Outsourcing
So, we all understand that BPO happens when a company decides to outsource certain activities to another company. But do we really understand its importance? Here are a few reasons why the BPO industry is important to growth and development.
Efficiency
BPO services help outsourcing companies concentrate more on their core competencies, which boosts production. Additionally, it allows senior management to concentrate more on developing business-related initiatives than on handling unimportant minutiae.
Using Resources Effectively
BPO enables the best use of limited resources. Outsourcing helps reallocate resources and boost productivity. This boosts productivity and profitability.
More Effective Use of Human Resources
Another crucial element of the advantages of BPO is the human resource department’s financial acumen. Organizations today need skilled workers who can produce economies of scale and are lucrative.
The Benefits of BPOs in the Caribbean
There must be a reason why so many Caribbean countries are interested in becoming involved in the BPO sector. So, what does it really mean for them? How do they benefit?
Job Creation
The BPO sector in the Caribbean has created more jobs in countries with high unemployment rates. This contributes to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) through wages earned, rent and utilities for accommodation payment, and purchase of local goods and other services.
Creating these jobs has led to a better quality of life for thousands of people and their families.
Economic Growth
BPOs present a clear opportunity for quick and sustainable growth of the Caribbean economy. With a huge informal sector in the Caribbean, they offer the chance for countries to diversify away from their dependency on either commodities or tourism.
According to estimations made locally, the BPO sector has emerged as a key driver of economic growth, particularly in Jamaica and the Dominican Republic, where it employs 35,000 and 18,000 people, respectively.
BPOs in Jamaica
Jamaica is the most developed and largest Caribbean BPO market, worth $450 million, with 36,000 English-speaking call center employees and a population of 2.9 million. By 2022, 100,000 call center employees are anticipated.
What BPOs Offer Young Jamaicans
Thousands of young Jamaican workers are enticed by the promises of high earning potential and skilled labor in a high-tech, international business and are recruited to work in contact centers.
It is a virtually guaranteed job for young Jamaicans, particularly graduates from high school and universities. Additionally, BPOs hire anyone as long as they match the qualifications, but other businesses might be reluctant to do so.
It gives staff members instruction and capabilities that can be developed and used further and frequently serves as the first step toward bigger goals like funding higher education. BPOs create opportunities for management jobs that open up the possibility of promotion from an entry-level employee.
Jamaicans are also offered some flexibility, allowing one to work part-time jobs, alternate shifts, or even from home.
BPOs In Trinidad and Tobago
Countries with large untapped human capital increase their competitive edge even as the talent shortage crisis worsens. The labor market in Trinidad and Tobago (T&T), a nation that was a little late to the BPO industry’s expansion, is nonetheless quite beneficial for prospective employers.
Let’s Conclude
We’ve covered so much about the BPO sector in the Caribbean. This industry has grown in the region since its inception and continues to do so rapidly.
Here at Day BPO, our multilingual outsourcing services will ensure a top-notch customer experience. Our international team of professionals delivers a wide range of services, from customer acquisition to technical support, and is backed by more than ten years of experience fueling cross-cultural growth for businesses of all kinds.
Numerous companies, including yours, are using multilingual BPO services to develop internationally cost-effectively. Outsourcing is one of the finest ways to enter a new market because it can be done with the aid of a skilled group of locals who can manage back-office tasks efficiently and deliver quality customer experiences on your behalf.
Contact us today for all your BPO needs!