Yoni Epstein, Chairman and CEO of Itel - Gleaner file photo
A leading voice in Jamaica's business process outsourcing sector is warning that the country could lose lucrative contracts to overseas competitors if a critical infrastructure is not restored quickly after Hurricane Melissa.
Chairman and CEO of Itel, Yoni Epstein, says he fears Jamaica's BPO operators may see business shift to India and the Philippines if telecoms and electricity service are not brought back on stream and short order.
He explained that working from home, which helped the industry remain resilient during the pandemic, is not a viable option now because many areas remain without stable internet and power, and a large number of agents do not have backup electricity.
Mr. Epstein said about 20% of the BPO sector based in Montego Bay is currently non-functional, forcing some operators to look for alternative locations in Kingston to keep services going.
He noted that 60% of Itel's operations are in Montego Bay and roughly 55% of that was affected by the hurricane.
However, the company has been partially shielded because 40% of its operations are located in Kingston and overseas.
Mr. Epstein warned that the speed of recovery in telecoms and energy will be crucial in determining the future of the BPO industry, stressing that international partners will not wait forever if Jamaica cannot reliably deliver services.
comments powered by Disqus
_logo.png){kind=logo}
All feeds
