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Services Sector

An AT Kearney 2009 survey, classified Costa Rica among the top 5 service locations in the Americas, based on an index that considers:

  • People skills and availability,
  • Business environment and
  • Financial structure
“Costa Rica has a relatively small but skilled workforce. Its social democracy has instilled policies such as universal public schooling, health care, and a national pension system. The adult literacy rate of 94.9 percent and human development index score of 83.2 demonstrate the country’s progress in people development and quality of life”.

(A.T. Kearney; Destination Latin America: A Near-Shore Alternative, 2007)

“…Costa Rica, an established player that is still adding new investors, including online retailer Amazon, which opened a contact center in Heredia in 2008”.

(A.T. Kearney; The Shifting Geography of Offshoring, 2009)

The Services Sector has been growing during the last 10 years, from 1 company in 1995, to a total of 95 companies and 28,416 employees in 2009.

The subsectors in the Services industry in Costa Rica are: Shared Services, Contact Centers, Back Office, Software, Design, Architecture & Construction, and Interactive Advertising & Audiovisual.

Advantages:

 

  • Costa Rica has one of the highest literacy rates of the American Continent (95.8%)
  • Education is mandatory until the 9th grade and makes strong emphasis on computer and English since early grades
  • The National Training Institute (INA) offers free technical training in many fields. A total of 95 technical schools and 60 universities prepare professionals with the highest international standards. These institutions provide training in several areas such as: electronic, electric, mechanical, and processing engineering, as well asEnglish and among others.
  • In 2009, the country invested over US$21 million in English and Information Technologies education, trained over 13,000 people and enrolled 20,000 more
  • Costa Rica has an advanced telecommunications system and reliable hydroelectric power
  • There are two major international airports: Juan Santamaría International Airport, which is located 15 km (9.4 mi) from San José, and Daniel Oduber International Airport located in Liberia, Guanacaste
  • Costa Rica enjoys direct worldwide fiber optic access through Maya 1, Arcos 1 and Global Crossing underwater cables, which allows a redundant fiber optics network
  • Telecommunication services in Costa Rica have significantly developed during the last few years; new multinational suppliers are expected to enter the market in 2009, providing private networks, Internet and mobile phone services

Companies in the Services Sector

 

Shared Services

  • Amway
  • Astra Zeneca SS
  • Baxter Americas
  • British American Tobacco
  • Chiquita Brands
  • Citi Business Services
  • DHL
  • Dole SS
  • Emerson
  • Hellmann Logistic
  • Intel SS
  • Lyon Resources (Publicis)
  • Oracle
  • Procter & Gamble GBS

Software

  • 4 thought Marketing
  • Avionyx
  • Fiserv
  • Global Insurance Technologies
  • JD Soft
  • Lux Red Consulting
  • Prosoft Nearshore
  • Ridge Run
  • Round Box Media
  • Simple Software Solutions
  • Slim Soft
  • Via Information Tools

Interactive Advertising and Audiovisual

  • Aniden Interactive
  • avVenta
  • Costa Rica Production Services
  • Digital Arbor
  • Schematic (WPP)
  • The Hangar Interactive (Critical Mass)
  • Via Luna Group

Engineering & Design

  • Agilis Engineering
  • Align Technologies
  • Emerson

Architecture and Construction

  • Design Scape
  • Gensler
  • Holland Roofing
  • Rehkemper and Sons

Contact Centers

  • ACE
  • Aegis Communications
  • Alienware (Dell)
  • Amadeus
  • Amazon
  • BA Continuum
  • Concentrix
  • Credits World
  • First Data
  • Fujitsu
  • Hewlett Packard (ITO)
  • ICT Group
  • Language Line
  • McKinsey & Co. Support Services
  • Micra Consulting
  • Motif
  • Omnex
  • Pacific Interpreters
  • Qualfon
  • Stream International
  • Startek
  • SYKES
  • Tech Data
  • Teletech
  • United Collection Bureau
  • UPS Supply Chain
  • Van Ru

Back Office

  • Access Personnel
  • Amba Research
  • APL
  • Arcus
  • BPO International
  • Equifax
  • Experian Marketing Services
  • Hewlett Packard (BPO)
  • IBM
  • Lightstorm
  • LL Bean
  • Pacific West
  • Paysource
  • Project Resources Group CR
  • Seton Centra
  • Sistemas Galileo
  • Trax Technologies
  • Western Union
  • WNS