People and Technology
Latin America has outpaced the world with its social media presence so much so that reports have also stated it as the ‘fastest way to reach them directly.’ With the recent explosion of connectivity and smartphone adoption, Latin America is positioned to make the transition to a more connected workplace. 70% of the region’s population has access to the internet, and it is the second fastest-growing mobile phone market in the world. However, there has been cultural resistance to new technologies that enable more efficient work, government processes and even education.3
The current forced digitization, though ideal for many, may be the reality of few considering the digital gaps in the region. This, however, may not be the truth for too long as firms are increasingly investing in startups to help them acclimatize to this new digitized normal.
This rising adaptation of technology and IT is resulting in a proportionate effect on the number of e-commerce users. According to a report by Evalueserve, e-commerce sales have been increasing ~20% annually, driven by a digital consumer base. Consumers in the region are showing a greater willingness to use digital tools resulting in maximum respondents investing in entertainment and IT products, food, clothing, beauty and personal care – in that order. The highest numbers were seen in the regions of Brazil, followed by Mexico, and Columbia. Such opportunities give rise to delivery networks that require salespeople, distribution and logistics’ employees, and excellent communicators who are technically equipped to deal with problems that may arise on the front and back end of the eCommerce website.
The forced digitization that Latin America is currently going through is resulting in numerous talent training options, which may lead us towards the next step in HR 4.0.
Startups based in the US are turning towards the Central American region with their services. The vocational skills training platform Aprende Institute recently raised a substantial seed round of funding to fill the gap between high-cost, high-commitment vocation institutes and free tutorials on YouTube and Google to help people make money in fields they are passionate about including gastronomy, business and entrepreneurship, wellness, trade skills, and fashion and beauty.4
With an average of four in ten firms in Latin America claiming it is challenging to find the right candidate, startups in the region have taken it upon themselves to upskill and reskill the talent available. These flexible, remote, innovative learning programs are equipping employees with the means to revamp their skillset and match the growing need for technical communicators.
Peru-based startup Crehana, for example, designed an innovative learning model that allows people from any socioeconomic segment to learn relevant skills for the creative and digital industries through free or affordable courses. To date, Crehana has trained more than 650,000 students in more than 20 countries, including Peru, Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, and Ecuador – most of these being women. With 76% of the roughly 30 million unemployed people being women, training modules like these are helping them develop technical skills currently filling more than 450,000 open tech jobs in Latin America.
Startups focused on developing digital literacy for women, like Labratoria and Google’s WomenWill, are also another step forward toward eradicating the unemployment rate among women which is 29% higher than that of men. Such innovative approaches may just alter the regular way of conducting business in South America. How?
The current forced digitization, though ideal for many, may be the reality of few considering the digital gaps in the region. This, however, may not be the truth for too long as firms are increasingly investing in startups to help them acclimatize to this new digitized normal.
This rising adaptation of technology and IT is resulting in a proportionate effect on the number of e-commerce users. According to a report by Evalueserve, e-commerce sales have been increasing ~20% annually, driven by a digital consumer base. Consumers in the region are showing a greater willingness to use digital tools resulting in maximum respondents investing in entertainment and IT products, food, clothing, beauty and personal care – in that order. The highest numbers were seen in the regions of Brazil, followed by Mexico, and Columbia. Such opportunities give rise to delivery networks that require salespeople, distribution and logistics’ employees, and excellent communicators who are technically equipped to deal with problems that may arise on the front and back end of the eCommerce website.
The forced digitization that Latin America is currently going through is resulting in numerous talent training options, which may lead us towards the next step in HR 4.0.
Startups based in the US are turning towards the Central American region with their services. The vocational skills training platform Aprende Institute recently raised a substantial seed round of funding to fill the gap between high-cost, high-commitment vocation institutes and free tutorials on YouTube and Google to help people make money in fields they are passionate about including gastronomy, business and entrepreneurship, wellness, trade skills, and fashion and beauty.4
With an average of four in ten firms in Latin America claiming it is challenging to find the right candidate, startups in the region have taken it upon themselves to upskill and reskill the talent available. These flexible, remote, innovative learning programs are equipping employees with the means to revamp their skillset and match the growing need for technical communicators.
Peru-based startup Crehana, for example, designed an innovative learning model that allows people from any socioeconomic segment to learn relevant skills for the creative and digital industries through free or affordable courses. To date, Crehana has trained more than 650,000 students in more than 20 countries, including Peru, Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, and Ecuador – most of these being women. With 76% of the roughly 30 million unemployed people being women, training modules like these are helping them develop technical skills currently filling more than 450,000 open tech jobs in Latin America.
Startups focused on developing digital literacy for women, like Labratoria and Google’s WomenWill, are also another step forward toward eradicating the unemployment rate among women which is 29% higher than that of men. Such innovative approaches may just alter the regular way of conducting business in South America. How?
- By giving rise to several entrepreneurship opportunities, therefore increasing the demand for relevant technical and design talent.
- With the increasing trust in digital media, one will see an accelerated rate in digital transactions and online shopping thereby increasing the reliability in the convenience of digital.
- By reducing the ‘cash is king’ status, as social distancing introduces more ‘no touch services’ with no contact solutions.
