BrazilDesk is a call center in Brazil focused on foreign companies that have needs in the country. However, we offer our customer support outsourcing services in more than one language — in addition to Portuguese, English, and Spanish. With years of experience and many agents hired, we’ve realized how important it is for workers to know a second or third language — but when is it beneficial for the company?
Let’s talk a bit about the importance of investing in bilingual customer support. Is your company ready to provide multicultural service?
Main areas that require bilingual professionals
There are several areas where the support of a bilingual professional is necessary, and interestingly, most of them involve remote jobs that can be done from different locations, opening up many offshore hiring opportunities. But the main areas are:
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Customer support: and here we can include various types of businesses, such as call centers, hospitality, tourism, direct customer service, telemarketing, among others.
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Sales and marketing: very common in specific niches where the company has clients from various different cultures, so an agent can make targeted sales in two different languages. Marketing also plays an important role online, where a professional can be very helpful in creating content for two markets segmented by language.
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Human resources: if your company hires many people and considers itself more globalized, having bilingual HR professionals is essential. Also, HR is often invited to participate in onboarding meetings for projects targeting other countries.
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Technical support: essential for IT professionals. Most companies that offer or require technical support require their employees to know more than one language to assist clients or use the company’s own tools.
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How Bilingual Employees Help in Customer Acquisition
Bilingual employees are invaluable in the acquisition of new clients. They can:
- Build Trust: Communicating in a customer’s native language builds trust and rapport, making it easier to convert prospects into loyal customers.
- Expand Reach: Accessing new markets by breaking down language barriers, allows your business to reach a broader audience.
- Improve Engagement: Providing personalized and culturally relevant interactions that enhance customer experience and satisfaction.
Importance of Bilingual Call Center Agents
Having bilingual call center agents is crucial for several reasons:
- Enhanced Customer Experience: Customers feel more comfortable and valued when they can communicate in their native language.
- Increased Efficiency: Resolving issues faster and more effectively by eliminating language misunderstandings.
- Competitive Advantage: Standing out in a crowded market by offering superior customer support.
- Read more benefits of bilingual agents.
Importance of International Communication
In today’s globalized world, effective international communication is more important than ever. Bilingual support ensures:
- Smooth Operations: Facilitating seamless interactions between different branches of an international company.
- Consistent Branding: Maintaining a unified brand voice across various languages and regions.
- Compliance: Ensuring that communications adhere to local regulations and cultural norms.
Comparative Analysis of English, Portuguese, and Spanish Speakers
Here’s a quick comparison of the reach of these three languages globally:
- English: Approximately 1.5 billion speakers worldwide.
- Spanish: Over 460 million native speakers and growing.
- Portuguese: Spoken by around 260 million people, predominantly in Brazil and Portugal.
Having bilingual capabilities in these languages allows your business to tap into vast markets and connect with a significant portion of the global population.
Other Benefits of Bilingual Support
Apart from the obvious advantages, bilingual support also offers:
- Improved Employee Satisfaction: Bilingual employees feel valued and more engaged.
- Better Market Insights: Understanding cultural nuances and market trends through direct communication with diverse customers.
- Cost Savings: Reducing the need for translation services and minimizing communication errors.
F.A.Q
What does bilingual mean?
Being a bilingual person means being able to speak two languages equally well.
Do bilingual people earn more?
Yes! Bilingual individuals can earn 5–20% more per hour than monolinguals;
According to the Market Data Report, in a 2024 publication.
Are bilingual people smarter?
Yes! Adesope et al. (2010) show that bilingual people have a slightly greater cognitive advantage over monolinguals, having more ease in attention control, task switching, creativity, and flexibility in
How does a bilingual brain work?
According to the publication Neuroscience of Multilingualism by the National Library of Medicine, the bilingual brain shows changes in how it processes information. Bilinguals activate brain regions associated with executive control more intensely, as they constantly manage two language systems. Additionally, frequent use of two languages physically alters neural structures, such as gray and white matter.
Can bilingualism be a job requirement?
Absolutely yes! Many companies in customer service, tourism, and support sectors highlight this need as one of the top requirements for a position.
Why is bilingual education important?
Learning a second language, especially in childhood, is essential for several reasons. In addition to enhancing brain capacity related to cognition, knowing another language broadens a person’s world, helping in personal relationships, the workplace, and cultural enrichment, among many other benefits bilingual education can provide.
How can I verify if a candidate is truly fluent in a language?
It all depends on the position and the level of fluency required. Once you understand that better, your company can create a pronunciation and writing test to assess fluency. Depending on the role, a conversational test might be more appropriate.
How can I invest in the bilingual education of my employees?
That’s a great question! There are several ways to help your employees learn or improve their knowledge of another language. A simple way is to create an educational program within the company where selected employees receive a course. You can also hire a part-time teacher to help them with recurring topics like pronunciation and grammar.
Conclusion
In conclusion, bilingual support is not just nice to have but a necessity for international businesses aiming for global success.
At BrazilDesk, we are committed to delivering exceptional bilingual call center services that help you connect with your customers, enhance their experience, and propel your business forward.
Embrace the power of bilingual support and see the difference it makes in your international operations.
