Businesses always search for new locations and outsourcing partners that offer more value and optimize their services. Canadian contact centers are an excellent choice for US businesses for nearshoring and other reasons like a multilingual workforce, ready infrastructure, and vendor capabilities. Montreal has emerged as a popular option for outsourcing customer services. Any call center in Montreal offering inbound or outbound services to different segments is a viable choice for businesses in the USA or worldwide. There are many reasons that make it a desirable location for companies to outsource their services. Here are the reasons to outsource your customer service operations to Montreal:
Montreal is a safe, vibrant, and youthful city with a population of 1.78 million. Reliable transportation, bilingual culture, and adequate infrastructure make it an attractive location in the American market. A favorable exchange rate and French-speaking workforce make it ideal for businesses looking to outsource services to target a specific customer base.
Business Edge Of Selecting a Call Center in Montreal
Financial Situations
The exchange of Canadian dollars is less than the US dollar. Therefore, for US-based businesses, it acts as an advantage. Also, Canada is not far away, and outsourced services and operations stay in North America while they can also save costs, unlike offshoring, where outsourced operations are performed on the other side of the globe. Moreover, the Canadian economy and political situation are considered safe and stable, and it is a favorable situation for opening and running a call center in Montreal and Canada.
Also, government policies are supportive of business growth and outsourcing industries, and economists are projecting growth in manufacturing and other industries in the coming years. The Canadian call centers and any Montreal call center services can offer a stable and inducive business environment for business process outsourcing due to its economic and political conditions.
Technology Infrastructure
Montreal enjoys a reliable and high-functioning technological infrastructure. Many network providers offer robust internet connections, and even 5G connections are offered by companies. A call center in Montreal can utilize these faster data speeds and response times to offer seamless services with optimum connectivity. Canadian call centers can benefit from this country’s best technology infrastructure and connectivity.
Several enterprises are located in Montreal that are global leaders in technology, neuroscience, aerospace, education, AI, etc., and the business scene in the city emphasizes efficiency, sustainability, and growth. Montreal is also known for prioritizing environmental concerns, such as energy, recycling initiatives, and other sustenance efforts.
Language Proficiency
Most people in Montreal are at least bilingual, and the city has a French-Canadian culture. In a recent survey of locals, 77% of respondents declared they were bilingual, while 23% said they were in a French-speaking city. A call center in Montreal can use this bilingual workforce or French-speaking customer service agents in French call center services. It will enable them to target a specific customer base or clientele with a culturally aware agent with the right accents who can connect with the customers or prospects.
Native speakers will be available to help customers who need assistance in French or French-speaking consumers. In Montreal, compared to other places, call center solutions can hire individuals who are aware of both English and French, and this bilingual support enables them to expand their abilities; for example, they can understand English documents and explain them to French customers. Moreover, these agents are often fluent in different dialects and have a neutral accent. Agents in a call center in Montreal are fluent in both major and secondary dialects of both languages, and this can create significant value for the French-English requirements of North American businesses.
Transport
Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport, or YUL, is one of the busiest airports in Canada. It may be reached by bus or private vehicle, only 13 miles from Montreal’s downtown. Transportation is a huge plus for any business that intends to outsource its services to a call center in Montreal.
In Montreal, the public transit system, known as STM, is dependable and reasonably priced for the residents. Moreover, a clean, quick, and secure metro operates in the city. Most significantly, it is easy to ride and has a wide network. Bus stops and rail terminals are connected to downtown by four lines of the metro network. The city roads are biker and pedestrian-friendly.
Education and Culture
Since there are no fees for education in Montreal from kindergarten through college, the city’s adult population is well-educated and well-cultured. With over thirty schools and institutions, the city has a youthful energy and offers a variety of entertainment and cultural events. These contribute to creating educated and skilled individuals ready to get hired in a call center in Montreal or join the BPO industry.
Well-known botanical gardens, a cultural center in Quebec, the biosphere, and the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts are popular destinations for amusements and cultural centers among the locals. Moreover, there are excellent restaurants all over the city. So, it houses a skilled and diverse workforce for outsourcing and other industries.
Healthcare
In Canada, all citizens are entitled to free or highly affordable medical care. Suppose foreign nationals register with the Regie de l’Assurance Maladie du Quebec or RAMQ and get a medical insurance card. In that case, they may be eligible for discounted care in Quebec, even if they are just visiting the province briefly.
Pregnant women, victims of abuse, and those suffering from contagious diseases will get care even throughout the three-month waiting period before approval. Because of this friendly atmosphere, BPO and BPM service providers find Montreal the perfect place to expand their operations. Employees of a call center in Montreal can utilize these benefits and welfare policies.
Rules for Business
In Quebec, registering a business is easy. In theory, there is no registration needed to launch an unincorporated business. You must register a company with the Registrar Des Entreprises, often known as the Enterprise Register, if you wish to register it under a name other than your first and last names. The online registration process is only available in French. Therefore, you might need to use translation services. A solo proprietorship costs only $36, but a partnership costs $53. Citizens of the United States benefit from a longstanding, favorable political connection with Canada.
Final Words: What to Look for in an Outsourcing Partner?
If you’re considering moving your customer service to Montreal, you should examine the benefits and drawbacks of outsourcing to a nearshore provider. Consider these questions first:
What are the outsourcing vendor’s restrictions and capabilities? Are they configured for both inbound and outbound call centers? Can they demonstrate appropriate infrastructure? Is the outsourcing firm equipped with the latest technology and equipment to meet your requirements?
Do you need to be concerned about the workforce? Can they satisfy your needs? Are there enough accent-neutral call agents or agents with specialized knowledge or skills? Does the outsourcing business have personal experience with the local market and culture?
An experienced BPO service provider can assist your company in expanding to Montreal and many other profitable areas across the world. Also, these global vendors offer services from diverse industries and locations, such as Canadian or US-based healthcare call centers or eCommerce or retail contact centers assisting your company in CX management.