ST JAMES, Jamaica - Global Services Association of Jamaica (GSAJ) will seek to showcase new technologies and opportunities in the global services sector and other areas of outsourcing, including logistics at the fourth staging of the Outsource2Jamaica Conference and Expo scheduled to take place on May 10 and 11.

The technology shift and the global focus on artificial intelligence; robotics process automation; and the fusion of IT and BPO into one seamless, end- to - end solution were some of the key drivers in deciding on the theme "Ahead of the Curve". Coupled with these broad industry drivers, emerging areas such as the Metaverse, Fintech and Logistics Outsourcing (in Jamaica) will also be on the agenda.

"The theme, ‘Ahead of the Curve’ is very fitting because while we have been in transformation for the last five or 10 years, the technology has advanced so much that we are at a point where Jamaica can benefit from the growth," said Anand Biradar, president of the GSAJ.

He noted that technology innovation has the potential to automate many of the services offered locally and feels that with more planning, Jamaica can move up the value chain very quickly and provide some of these more complex services.

Conference co-chair Gloria Henry said a lot of thinking went into selecting a theme that would be representative of the place where the sector is and that would be aligned with the global market position. She noted that over the last three decades, Jamaica’s GSS has gone through various transitions resulting in continued inclusion of value-added services.

The GSAJ is the leading representative body serving the Information, Communications Technology, Logistics Outsourcing and Business Process Outsourcing (Contact Center) sectors in Jamaica.

The Outsource2Jamaica and Exhibition is the largest event in Jamaica that currently focuses on the sector and brings together global experts, technocrats, government officials, multilateral agencies, industry service providers, policy experts, and aspiring creative professionals to learn and network as they prepare for the future of the industry. The event will be held this year at the Jewel Grande Montego Bay All-Inclusive Resort & Spa in St James.

The exhibition will give suppliers an opportunity to increase brand awareness and will expose attendees to a wide range of products and services available. The conference will also feature an event marketplace that will give students, university graduates, and job seekers access to career counselling. Job seekers and recruiters will also get an opportunity to interact in a structured environment.

The keynote address will be given by David Bell, the co-founder of Idea Farm Ventures. He is a trailblazer in e-commerce and omnichannel strategy and is referred to as the "Guru of the direct-to-consumer movement" by Inc. Magazine. There will also be presentations from several other sector leaders within the tech space, Silicon Valley and other areas.

One of the highlights of the Outsource2Jamaica Conference over the years has been the GSAJ Industry Awards, which will be held this year under the theme:"Connecting the World".

All local operators will be acknowledged during the awards. This year, most employees will be separated by regions, and there will be awards for the longest-serving BPO company and the longest-serving BPO executive.

– Horace Hines