Atento pumps $500K into Caguas call center expansion
The company has been operating in Puerto Rico since 1999 supporting public and private sector clients.
The Atento call center in Caguas is investing $500,000 to expand its customer relationship management services that will generate 200 new jobs in 24 months, Gov. Alejandro García-Padilla announced Thursday during a tour of the facilities.
“Puerto Rico takes a new step today in its goal of being an export center for world-class services, while diversifying our economy,” he said.
Atento is one of world’s largest Customer Relationship Management companies in the business process outsourcing sector, offering services in 16 countries. Atento has been operating in Puerto Rico since 1999 supporting public and private sector clients. The Caguas-based operation is the town’s largest private employer, with about 600 workers.
It’s expansion is the result of an agreement with the Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company, García-Padilla said.
“This project is part of the industrial diversification strategy to create and strengthen new economic segments, as for example the export services sector”, said PRIDCO Executive Director Antonio Medina-Comas.
Atento’s strategy is to position the Puerto Rico operation as the ideal near shore destination with bilingual capabilities for the U.S. market, he said.
The service provider’s client roster includes wireless carrier T-Mobile, which for the past 10 years has relied on the Caguas company to handle its customer service calls, financial services and phone sales.
T-Mobile expects to generate 70 new jobs during the first months of this year, the carrier said in a statement. The average salary of a T-Mobile call center employee is $18,000.
AT&T hiring for 40 call center jobs in Puerto Rico
In related news, wireless carrier AT&T also announced Thursday that is looking to fill 40 full-time jobs at its Guaynabo and Carolina call centers. The openings include 20 business customer service specialist positions at the Carolina call center and 20 customer care representative jobs at the Guaynabo site.
The current hiring is in support of AT&T’s ongoing focus on delivering an effortless customer experience, the company said.
“Our goal is to delight our customers, whether talking to them on the phone, serving them face-to-face or chatting with them online,” said AT&T Regional Vice President for Puerto Rico the U.S. Virgin Islands, Ray Flores. “That’s why AT&T continues to invest in local jobs and our local network.”
AT&T hired more than 135 employees in Puerto Rico in 2014. The company currently employees more than 1,700 workers throughout the island.
