Jamaica’s integrated technology powerhouse Productive Business Solutions Limited (PBS) has moved more aggressively into the Latin American market, adding one of the region’s most vibrant economies, Colombia, to its widening regional business footprint.

PBS, a subsidiary of the Musson Group of Companies, has been known mainly in Jamaica for its local representation of the Xerox brand and for being the exclusive distributor of Xerox products in many Caribbean and Central American countries.PBS operates in 14 countries throughout the region representing world-leading brands such as HP, Sony, Motorola, VeriFone, Kodak, Pitney Bowes, L3 Security, Cisco, Oracle, among others in the different markets.This has boosted the company’s offerings to span distribution, installation and service of computers, printing, imaging, security; identification and transaction processing equipment; lease and rental of specific types of equipment; distribution of parts and supplies for printing machines including paper); and manufacturing of IDs, and access cards.Its foray into Colombia, with a population of 49 million, a GDP of in excess of US$300 billion and strong economic growth, has reaffirmed its heavyweight status in the Caribbean and Central America.The company has benefitted from strong growth in sales and revenues in addition to increased interest in new products such as Cisco and Oracle products and services.It has now developed strong relationships with leading brands in security, identification and card technology solutions, and has also attracted strong attention from private and public sector entities across the region.PBS, now a US$200-million multinational company, is generally classified as the largest IT and technology company in the Caribbean/Central America (CCA) region, with a footprint in 22 countries.The company’s CEO is Pedro Paris, and its chairman PB Scott is also Chairman/CEO of its parent company, Musson Group.It has a staff complement of 1,300, and offers document technology and IT services to key clients such as Alcoa, Florida Bebidas, Digicel, Ice Aeroman, Ministerio De Hacienda, ACP, Banco Nacional De Panama, Walmart, Cable and Wireless, National Commercial Bank, Barco Industrial, CBC and Barrick.“What’s more is that PBS also already has a client base operating out of Latin America including Colombia,” Scott noted.Its other clientele include Citibank, Ericsson, Telefonica, Copa Airlines, Tigo, Grupo Nutresa, Petroholding, Claro, P&G, Office Depot, Belcorp, BBVA, Grupo Aval, Credomatic, Pepsi, Coca Cola Femsa, Colgate, SABMiller, Davivienda, Ebel International, Avon, Avianca, Scotiabank, Bancolombia and EPM.However, the company’s growth did not come overnight.In 2006, PBS placed their stamp in Central America, by acquiring 51 per cent of Difoto, a technology distribution firm founded in 1955.This allowed Facey Group’s business solutions division to expand its distribution and warehouse capacities in Central America where Difoto is also the exclusive distributor of Xerox products. To top that off, Facey, through PBS, gradually increased its stake and in 2009 acquiring 100 per cent of Difoto.Today PBS has offices in Jamaica, Guatemala, Curacao, Dominican Republic, the Cayman Islands, Aruba, Panama, Barbados, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Belize, USA, Honduras, Suriname and now Colombia.The company, which values discipline, passion and commitment to work, customer service, teamwork, a winning attitude, respect for individuals and integrity, is confident that its growth path will continue for years to come.“PBS remains committed to its customers throughout the Central American and Caribbean region, while providing its shareholders with worthwhile and expected returns on their investment,” Scott noted.