Colombia is now a strategic center when it comes to the outsourcing of IT and business services, with international investors attracted by the skills and size of its workforce, its favorable business climate, and its geographic location.

The sector has shown impressive growth, with Colombia receiving 387 new investment projects in the BPO, KPO, software, and IT services sector in the past seven years, according to fDi Markets and PRO COLOMBIA reports.

Why you should work with Colombia-based IT companies

One of the biggest draws for investors is the breadth and diversity of Colombian talent. Colombia has the second most qualified workforce in South America, according to the IMD World Talent Report 2016, ahead of countries such as Brazil, Peru, Chile and Venezuela.

Colombia's Ministry of Information Technology and Communications (MinTIC) certified more than 37,000 Colombians in digital skills in the third quarter of 2017, adding to the field of innovative developers in the software development sector.

Figures suggest there are more than 4,000 software and IT service companies across Colombia. About 3% of those are large companies, 80% of which are based in the central region of the country with four percent in the north, six percent in the west, four percent in the east, and the rest distributed across the country.

What you should be aware of when working with Colombian-bassed IT companies

South America tends to be a more attractive destination for the IT market, and Colombian IT companies and web agencies are taking advantage of this opportunity. However, there are several aspects that need to pay attention to when working with companies based in Colombia. Lack of experience, underdeveloped IT infrastructure and the incapacity of competing with the US and Europe IT companies create challenges and doubts for potential clients in whether to choose a Colombian IT company as a partner for their next web project, despite the cheap hourly rate it has to offer compared to the international global market. 

How reliable are Colombian-based IT companies

Gartner Inc, an international consultancy company ranked Colombia as one of five destinations in Latin America to offer Business Process and Information Technology Outsourcing highlighting the country’s bilingual labor force and salary competitiveness within the sector. In addition, Everest Group the global consulting firm mentioned Colombia as an optimal market for finance and accounting outsourcing (FAO), legal process outsourcing (LPO), and business process outsourcing (BPO). Likewise, the company asserted the country’s strengths for its commerce. 

How does Colombian IT infrastructure relate to the neighboring countries?

As the third-largest provider of IT services in Latin America after Brazil and Mexico with US$ 2.579 million (According to the International Data Corporation – IDC), Colombia is rising to the top due to its skilled workforce of more than 1.2 million professionals in the financial and services industry, incentives provided by the government, a continuous free trade agreement platform, competitive free trade zone regime, proximity, and connectivity to North America. These features and benefits have created an ideal business environment for venture capital firms and angel investors looking to invest in innovative and attractive opportunities.

Have you ever noticed how some websites and apps just feel easier to use than others? That's because of the UX/UI design - basically, the people who make sure everything looks good and is easy to navigate.

UX/UI design services are closely connected, but they are not the same. They are actually about different parts of the design and to be effective they must work together.

• UI (user interface) design concentrates on visual elements. It is all about how things look and work on a product, like colors, fonts, and buttons.

• UX (user experience) refers to the overall experience a person has with a product  – how easy it is to use the product, how it makes the user feel, and whether it is possible to easily get what is needed from it.

According to research conducted by Forrester, a well-designed user interface (UI) can increase a website's conversion rate by 200%, whereas a better user experience (UX) design could raise it by up to 400%.

In this connection, the importance of UX/UI Design cannot be overstated. Nowadays users have high expectations for the products they use, if a product is not easy to use or enjoyable, users will quickly abandon it. 

UX/UI design can help:

• Enhance user satisfaction

• Reduce bounce rates

• Lead to higher customer retention and revenue

UX Design has also an important role in Inclusive Government Design, which makes government services accessible and user-friendly for diverse and marginalized communities.  

But how do choose the right UX/UI Company? 

1. Review the company's portfolio and make sure they have experience in your industry

2. Look for companies that understand your target audience to meet their needs.

3. Inquire about their design process: research, wireframing, prototyping, and testing.

4. Choose a company that maintains transparent and open communication and keeps you involved throughout the design process.

5. Read client reviews to check their reputation and client satisfaction.

6. A good design company should be up-to-date with the latest design trends and technologies.

Taking into consideration all these tips you will manage to select the right UX/UI Design Company that will help to achieve your goals. 

There are over 8766 UX/UI Design companies on the TechBehemoths platform. Check their profiles, their strong portfolios, and previous clients' reviews before you make a decision. With the help of smart filters, you can easily find suitable partners to deliver exceptional digital experiences. Alternatively, you can submit your project, and this way we will find the best match on your behalf.

 Moreover, if you are interested to know UI and UX Design challenges, discover a few bad UX Design examples and find out how to fix them, we invite you to our blog.