Highs and Lows of Jamaica's BPO/ IT Sector

By nearshoreamericas

  • Teleperformance and AllianceOne announce plans to expand Montego Bay call center operations

    Teleperformance, of France, backed a move by its US subsidiary AllianceOne, to expand customer service and debt collection operations in the Montego Bay Freezone.

  • WEF ranks Jamaica above India, Brazil for ICT readiness

    The Global Competitiveness Network at the WEF released a report on ICT readiness. Jamaica was ranked 53rd, above India (54), Brazil (59), Mexico (67) and Argentina (87).

  • Xeros acquires ACS - and with it Jamaica-based E-Services

    The US$6.4 billion deal saw Xerox acquire ACS and its Jamaica-based subsidiary, E-Services.

  • Jamaica ranks 99th in world corruption index

    Transparency International (TI) ranked Jamaica 99th in its Corruption Perception Index (CPI). According to a report in the Jamaican Observer, the CPI measures the perceived levels of public sector corruption in a given country and is a composite index.

  • Minacs opens BPO center in Montego Bay, Jamaica

  • Jamaican Prime Minister and IMF MD meet to discuss trade, economic and financial issues.

    Jamaica’s Prime Minister Bruce Golding and International Monetary Fund Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn met at the CARICOM summit at Rose Hall Resort in Montego Bay, Jamaica to discuss trade, economic and financial issues.

  • Delta Cargo announces withdrawal of contract call center in Montego Bay

    Delta Cargo announced that it would insource work from a contract call center in Montego Bay, Jamaica, where customers could call to inquire about shipments of animals.

  • Nearshore Americas releases the BPO Jamaica Special Report

    The report noted that "companies like ACS/Xerox, Teleperformance, Convergys, VistaPrint, and Scotiabank are not in the Jamaican market for pure labor arbitrage, but are instead pushing into more sophisticated BPO, taking advantage of Jamaica’s human capital, the country’s 'major strength', and a strength that is now beginning to flourish in Kingston rather than solely Montego Bay."

  • Casserly led JAMPRO team to Florida outsorcing summit

    Patrick Casserly, the ambassador/special envoy with responsibility for information, communication and technology (ICT) in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, led a team from JAMPRO to the Gartner Outsourcing & Vendor Management Summit in Florida.

  • Jamaica falls in WEF Global Competitiveness Rankings

    The WEF Global Competitiveness Report saw huge gains for Latin American countries like Brzil and ARgentina, but Jamaica fell sharply in te ranks.

  • Minacs announces plans to double workforce in Jamaica within 18 months

    The Jamaican Observer reported on Minacs' annoucement.

  • Jamaican government launches US$20 million loan facility to help ICT sector

    In a press release on the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce website, Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO) and the Development Bank of Jamaica Limited (DBJ) announced that they had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a US$20 million loan facility, which would facilitate investment in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector.

  • Convergys announces first Jamaican call center plans

    Convergys announced that it would be opening its first call center in Montego Bay, Jamaica. The call center was to house 1,000 seats.

  • Business Processing Industry Association of Jamaica formed

    BPO and ICT companies in Jamaica teamed up to form an industry association, the Business Processing Industry Association of Jamaica, to lobby the government to help the country make full use of its potential as a nearshoring hub.

  • Sutherland Global Expands into Jamaica

    Global outsourcing firm Sutherland Global Services announced plans to establish a global delivery center (GDC) at the Mona Campus of the West Indies University in Kingston, Jamaica, where it will train students in call center operations.

  • Convergys announces postponement of Jamaican call center investment

    Convergys officially postponed its 1,000 seat expansion into Montego Bay, approximately one year after officials – from both Jamaica and Convergys – publicly announced the project.

  • Xerox reiterates commitment to growing BPO in Jamaica

    Xerox Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ursula Burns visted the company's Jamaican facilities for the first time and reiterated the company's confidence in the sector in Jamaica.

  • Sancia Bennett Templer steps down as President of JAMPRO

    After seven years, Sancia Bennett Templer announced that she would step down as President of JAMPRO.

  • Columbus International launches customer service centers in Jamaica and Trinidad

    Telecom capacity vendor Columbus International launched two customer service centers. Trinidad was the site for the company’s regional call center while Jamaica hosted the customer retention and collections functions.

  • JAMPRO Wins UN Recognition for Investment Promotion

    Jamaican national investment and export promotion agency (JAMPRO) won a UNCTAD award for successfully promoting export-oriented foreign direct investment (FDI).

  • BPO training alliance formed

    Jamaica’s outsourcing industry lobby group (BPIAJ) teamed up with the country’s National Training Agency (NTA) to build what is hoped to be a pioneering program to increase the readiness of the BPO worker population.

  • Development Bank of Jamaica lends $62 million to ICT sector

    The Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ) agreed to lend $62 million USD to the ICT sector as part of the government’s plan to create 6,000 jobs over the next few years.

  • Island Outsourcers Restructures Operations and Expands into Bahamas

    Jamaican BPO firm Island Outsourcers announced plans to split into two independent companies as part of a restructuring program aimed at accommodating new services in its portfolio. It also released plans to set up a call center in Freeport, Grand Bahama.

  • ICD Group opens first call center in Jamaica

    According to the Jamaican Gleaner, ICD Group Limited acquired 50 per cent of the equity of Canadian BPO outsourcer Advantage Communications Inc (ACI). "At the same time, ACI expanded its operation to Jamaica and opened a new call centre in November in New Kingston."

  • UN report predicts 1.2% growth for Jamaica in 2014

    A United Nations report on economic prospects forecast growth of 1.2% for Jamaica in 2014.

  • Montego Bay Free Zone reaches 100% occupancy

    The Jamaican government stated that its free economic zone in Montego Bay, which is home to many foreign outsourcing firms, generated over 7,000 jobs and US$121 million in foreign exchange earnings in 2013/2014. It also reached 100% occupancy.

  • IDB announces development of BPO incubator in Monyego Bay

    The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) announced its plans to develop a business incubator for BPO businesses in Montego Bay.

  • Jamaica makes a case for a stronger BPO sector at Nexus 2014

    JAMPRO's Claude Duncan talked about Jamaica's BPO stengths at Nexus 2014.

  • Jamaica rebounds in World Bank ‘Doing Business’ Report

    Jamaica posted the strongest overall improvement in the region, after almost a decade of declines saw the country drop to number 94 on the Bank’s list.

  • DHL launched call center in Jamaica

    U.S. mailing services giant DHL Express set up a call center in Jamaica’s New Kingston.

  • Jamaican Government, BPO Sector to Fight Imposition of WTO Tax Proposal

    Loren Moss reported that: A draft document has been floated in Jamaica’s parliament to impose a 10% tax on the country’s developing BPO industry, and that proposal is drawing a strong reaction from both politicians and Jamaica’s BPO sector.