Setting Up A Call Center In Belize: A Guide

Belize is an ideal location for a call center for several reasons. As a former member of the British Commonwealth, Belize is one of the few countries where English is the official language and the mother tongue. This makes it a prime location for US companies looking to outsource their call centers to English-speaking countries with a low price tag. Belize also has close cultural and economic ties to the US, with many daily non-stop flights from US cities and time zones that mirror those of the US. The country also boasts strong infrastructure, utilities, transportation, technology, and telephony. Additionally, Belize has a stable political and economic climate, which is not always the case for its Latin American neighbors. With a young, educated, and multilingual workforce, Belize's call center outsourcing market is growing.

Advantages of Belize for call centres

Belize is an ideal location for a call centre for several reasons. Firstly, as a former member of the British Commonwealth, Belize is one of the few countries where English is the mother tongue, with Belizeans being native English speakers. This is particularly beneficial for serving US-based customers, as many Belizeans also have a strong affinity with US culture due to the country's tourism industry, which attracts over a million American visitors annually.

Belize's proximity to the US is another advantage, with several airlines offering daily non-stop flights from many US cities. Belize also shares a time zone with the US, which is beneficial for doing day-to-day business. The country has gained a reasonable degree of maturity in a short time, with the first contact centre opening in 2005, and now over 20 call centres operating across the country.

Belize also offers a stable and safe environment for businesses, with a well-educated workforce. The country has a strong infrastructure, both technically and politically, and is one of the most stable countries in the region, both politically and culturally.

Call centres in Belize benefit from low attrition and turnover rates, as many agents consider their role as a long-term career path. The country's workforce is also highly educated, with many agents holding an Associate's degree from local colleges. Additionally, call centres in Belize can provide significant cost savings compared to US call centres, with a 40%-60% cost reduction.

With its native English-speaking population, proximity to the US, stable infrastructure, and cost-effective operations, Belize offers a compelling package for companies seeking to establish call centres in the region.

Finding a Belize call centre partner

Belize is an ideal location for a call center for several reasons. As a former member of the British Commonwealth, Belize is an English-speaking country, with many native English speakers. Belize also has strong ties to the US, with many American visitors each year, and it mirrors US time zones, which is beneficial for business.

When looking for a Belize call center partner, there are several companies that can help you outsource. Transparent BPO, for example, offers native English speakers, short flights from the US and Canada, and cultural affinity with the US. They also have brand new facilities and a large number of agents. CustomerServ is another option, with call center partners in Belize City, San Ignacio, and Belmopan. They offer bilingual English and Spanish call center agents and a 40-60% cost-saving compared to US call centers.

Bethel Communications is another call center in Belize, serving small and medium-sized businesses. They are focused on delivering quality services 24/7/365 and have over 15 years of experience in the industry.

The Belize National Call Center is another potential partner, offering seamless call center experiences for your customers with English-speaking agents. They provide inbound and outbound calls and have a well-trained staff of customer service experts.

When choosing a call center partner in Belize, it is important to consider the company's location, the languages they offer, their cost, and the level of service and expertise they can provide.

Benefits of outsourcing to Belize

Belize is a small Central American country bordering Mexico and Guatemala, known for its stunning beaches, clear Caribbean waters, ancient Mayan ruins, and diverse flora and fauna. However, its potential as a nearshore outsourcing location is often overlooked. Here are some key benefits of outsourcing to Belize:

Native English-Speaking Population

Belize is one of the few countries where English is the mother tongue, with many Belizeans speaking English from birth. This makes them ideal candidates for contact center work, as they often have neutral dialects. Additionally, over 50% of the population also speaks Spanish, making it easier for companies to provide multilingual support to their customers.

Strong Cultural Affinity with the United States

Belize has a strong cultural connection with the United States, as over a million American tourists visit the country each year, and American channels dominate Belizean television. This gives Belizeans a deep understanding of and alignment with American culture, which is valuable for customer service and business process outsourcing.

Proximity to the United States

Belize is easily accessible from the United States, with several airlines offering daily non-stop flights from various US cities. Additionally, Belize shares the same time zones as the United States, making it convenient for doing business. This proximity allows companies to have a more hands-on approach to outsourcing and helps bridge cultural gaps.

Service Maturity and Low Attrition

While Belize is a relatively new outsourcing destination, it has quickly gained maturity. The first contact center opened in 2005, and now there are more than 20 outsourcing companies operating in the country. Belize also has a low attrition rate compared to other regions, as many agents consider call center work a long-term career path. The uniqueness of the jobs and the daytime working hours due to the time zone proximity to the US also attract workers.

Regional Stability and Safety

Belize is one of the most politically and culturally stable countries in the region, making it a safe choice for outsourcing. In contrast, some of its Latin American neighbors have experienced political unrest and violence.

Strong Infrastructure

For a developing country, Belize boasts a robust educational, political, and technological infrastructure. It has a high literacy rate, and many contact center workers have college degrees. The government actively supports the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry through tax incentives, classification as a "priority sector", and subsidized training for those interested in contact center careers. Belize also has two major fiber optic hubs, ARCOS and TELMAX, with a third on the way.

Staff retention in Belize call centres

Belize is an ideal location for a call center for several reasons. Firstly, as a former member of the British Commonwealth, Belize is an English-speaking country, making it attractive for US companies looking to outsource their customer service needs. Secondly, Belize has close cultural and economic ties to the US, with many Belizean contact center agents having worked in the tourism industry that caters to over a million American visitors annually. The proximity to the US, shared time zones, and stable political and cultural environment also make Belize a convenient choice for US companies.

When it comes to staff retention in Belize call centers, there are several factors to consider. Firstly, call center work in Belize is considered a career path for many agents, which helps to reduce turnover rates. This is in contrast to other countries, where call center work may be viewed as a temporary or low-paying job. Belizean agents are also highly qualified, with many having received Associate's degrees from local colleges, and they are thoroughly trained to provide high-quality customer service.

Additionally, the limited variety of careers in Belize pushes the best talent towards call centers, ensuring a steady stream of skilled and qualified workers. The unique nature of these jobs, daytime working hours, and the opportunity to work for US companies also attract Belizean workers.

To further enhance staff retention, call center companies in Belize can focus on providing competitive salaries, benefits, and career development opportunities. Given the high unemployment rate in Belize, stable and well-paying jobs will be attractive to potential employees. Companies can also invest in additional training and skill development for their employees, ensuring they remain competent and engaged in their work.

By combining the advantages that Belize offers as a call center location with effective staff retention strategies, companies can establish successful and sustainable operations in the country.

Belize's suitability for bilingual services

Belize is a small country in Central America with a population of around 400,000 people. It is the only country in the region with English as its official language, and it has a strong affinity with the US. This makes it an attractive nearshore business process outsourcing (BPO) destination for US companies.

English is the mother tongue of Belizeans, and it is the primary language used in academic settings. However, it is not the primary language used in many homes, where Belizean Creole (or Kriol), Spanish, or another indigenous language may be spoken. In fact, more than 40% of Belize's population can speak English, Spanish, and Belizean Creole. This makes Belizeans highly competent bilingual speakers, with a unique ability to code-switch between languages.

Belize's proximity to the US, its time zones, and its cultural affinity with the US make it an ideal location for US companies to outsource their call centres. The country also has a stable political and cultural environment, a strong infrastructure, and a well-educated workforce.

While Belize has a small population, it has a high percentage of bilingual speakers. This makes it an attractive location for companies seeking a talented, English-speaking workforce, particularly for those in the emerging global outsourcing market.

Frequently asked questions