Technical Proficiency – Lower Cost
Mexico’s many universities offer excellent computer science, engineering and other technical degrees. More than 60,000 four-year IT-program graduates join the workforce each year. More than 10 percent of Mexican students are enrolled in a computer science or IT-related program. These graduating engineers earn roughly one-third what their U.S. counterparts earn – a boon for organizations nearshoring to Mexico.
When comparing costs, Mexico is similar to or only slightly more expensive than the major outsourcing countries. When all the cost factors are considered – turnover, ease of communication, productivity, travel time, lack of visa quotas and cultural affinity – Mexico offers a lower total project cost, even in cases of lower wage differentials.
Mexico also shares more cultural traits with the United States than any other outsourcing hotbed. A common culture contributes to higher productivity and lower cost. The cultural affinity is partially based on the constant exchange of goods and services and the fact that many of Mexico’s IT professionals work for the United States or global companies. As the language of computer science and other technical degrees, English is the norm among IT technical professionals in Mexico.