Latin America is home to around 8% of the world population. An area that spans from the borders of Mexico to the tip of Chile, it is a region that is filled with abundant natural resources and is a renowned export hub of agricultural products and natural resources.
Growth studies from the last years have revealed that the gross domestic product or GDP of Latin America has grown faster than even the developed nations of the world. And indeed, the Latin region and the Hispanic culture looks pretty promising to every global business involved. If you are someone looking to grow your business in Latin America, here are the six most important things you need to take care of to give the best service to your Latin American clients.
1. Have a customer-centric culture
As an organization who want to build a business in Latin America and serve their clients better, you need to have a customer-centric culture. Make customers the focal point of your primary strategy. And as an organization, you should have clarity on the purpose of your company, the values it stands for, the long-term mission, and the primary vision of a company.
Your work culture is an essential but under-rated factor that contributes immensely to the success of your organization. And if you want to achieve success with Latin American clients, the first thing to do is to nurture a customer-centric culture.
2. Have a more personalized approach
Now, having a more personalized approach doesn’t mean you need to draft an account-based marketing strategy. A personalized approach here means being more friendly and warm in approach. Personal relationships play a vital role in the way Latin American’s approach their business. Any Latin American businessman would want to know you as a person first before they do any commitments on professional levels with you.
Yes, building a personal relationship takes time, but in business, you should never underestimate the power of good local business partnerships.
3. Do your research on the country where your partner is based
If you think Latin America is a monolithic continent, then you are mistaken. Latin America consists of different countries with diverse cultures. So, every time you handle a Latin American client, you should know which country they are from and then do ample research on it. Yes, globalization has made English a common language, but the language is not the only distinctive cultural change you will see across Latin countries.
Your business meetings would vary depending on the country in which you are working. In Argentina, it is important to greet every person individually whereas in countries like Chile and Panama getting straight to the point is the standard norm, so keep yourself aware of these cultural differences, and you will surely be well prepared to serve your client better.
4. Socialize like a Latin American
Latin Americans are friendly and respectful people who don’t like to offend each other. They love talking, and that means your business meetings would last longer than you planned. Being a non-Latin-American, you would find this extra friendliness and chatty behaviour pretty unprofessional, but it is not the case. They are just the way they are, and if you want to serve them better, you need to let them talk and know you better. That way, you build a bond of trust, helping in crafting a healthy professional relationship.
5. Keep calm and slow down with your projects
The work pace in Latin America is very different to UK, USA, and India. Yes, the pace may vary from country to country across the Latin American region, but the general rule of thumb is you should give 25% more time to get the projects done compared to other countries, and you should be ready to be flexible with your timekeeping.
6. Learn a bit of local language
When you start working with a new client in Latin America, he or she won’t expect you to become an expert orator in their local language. But it is human psychology that people love you more when you speak to them in their local language. Learn the language of your client at the primary level, and that will show them how much you respect them. After all, talking in English always would get mundane at times. A few lines in the local language would not only make the conversation more personal and exciting, it will also make them trust you more.
