Financial Outlook
On the whole, Colombia has a growing economy and is more economically stable than many other South American countries. At the same time, the exchange rate between the US dollar and the Colombian peso typically favors the US.
Considering Colombia’s minimum wage, ContactPoint 360 agents are well-compensated. These positions are highly coveted for this reason, allowing us to be very selective in our hiring approach.
Technology Infrastructure
Broadband internet is available throughout the region. Most residents have home internet, and mobile networks offer 4G in most areas. ContactPoint 360 sites are well- connected to the grid and invest in quality infrastructure.
Language Skills
Among Bogotá’s ten million residents, the overall percentage of English speakers is relatively low compared to other South American regions. However, because the market is so large, there are still plenty of fluent English speakers in the available talent pool.
All ContactPoint 360 customer engagement associates in Bogotá are bilingual English/Spanish speakers with proficient written and verbal skills.
Transportation
Bogotá has a reliable, comprehensive public transportation infrastructure. Workers in the business district have many convenient options for their commutes.
The city is served by the ultra-modern Eldorado International Airport, which offers many daily direct flights to most major North American cities. The city is also bike-friendly — more than 84,000 people make use of Bogotá’s cycle routes each day.
Culture and Education
Culturally, Bogotá is similar in some ways to the United States. On the whole, the younger generations come from highly diverse backgrounds and are well-educated. Many are bilingual. Local employers draw talent from the area’s 40+ major colleges and universities and 100+ trade schools.
Bogotá offers a booming culinary scene. Chefs from around the globe have set up shop in this region, hoping to capitalize on the modern culinary revolution taking place.
Medical Care
Public Health Care: The World Health Organization (WHO) ranked Colombia’s healthcare system as #22 out of 191 countries (for reference, the United States came in at #37). Twenty-three of Latin America’s top 58 hospitals are located in Colombia.
ContactPoint 360 agents are covered under the country’s EPS Entidades Promotoras de Salud public healthcare system.
Private Healthcare: The public EPS plan serves as a foundation for adding private options like specific doctors or specialists. Colombian residents can add these features to their EPS plan.
Business Regulations
To register a business in Colombia, three different institutions are involved:
- Camara de Comercio (Chamber of Commerce), the public entity that regulates the establishment of new companies.
- Departamento de Impuestos y Aduanas Nacionales (DIAN, the Colombian Tax and Revenue Department) deals with tax issues and assigns tax numbers to businesses.
- A private bank that holds the required business bank account.
On the regulatory side, it can be challenging to sort through the many rules and laws that apply to setting up a business presence in Colombia. Many regulations are similar to US regulations around the formation of corporations and other partnerships.
What to Look for in an Outsourcing Partner
As you prepare to expand outside your home country, it’s essential to take a pragmatic approach when choosing an outsourcing partner. Consider these questions:
- What are the vendor’s outsourcing capabilities? Can they handle both an inbound and outbound call center setup?
- What about infrastructure? Does the outsourcing company have access to reliable infrastructure, adequate bandwidth, and up-to-date equipment?
- Can the workforce meet your needs? Do you need accent-neutral call agents or agents with specific skill sets or expertise?
- Does the outsourcing company have firsthand knowledge of the local market and culture?
Learn more about ContactPoint 360 and how we can help you expand to Bogotá and many other lucrative markets throughout the world.
