With the support from Investe SP, Serasa Experian invests in new facility in São Carlos
IT, Data Capture and Finance will be concentrated in the company’s new center of excellence. The intention is to foster the development of innovative solutions with cutting edge technology
Investe São Paulo with information from Serasa Experian and the Municipality of São Carlos
On February 23, Serasa Experian, a Latin American leader in information services to support decision-making among companies, announced a new facility and the expansion of its operations in São Carlos. The announcement was made during a press conference and ceremony in the City Hall.
With an investment of R$ 30 million, the new center of excellence should encompass the areas of IT, Data Capture and Finance and meet all the demands of the national territory. Serasa Experian will maintain the activities of its headquarters in Planalto Paulista and Cerqueira César, both in the south region of São Paulo.
The project relies on the support from Investe São Paulo, the export and investment promotion agency of the State Government. “Companies such as Serasa Experian help São Paulo remain as a destination of investments while everyone talk about crisis. And thanks also to municipalities such as São Carlos, which promptly meet the demands of the private sector and always work in partnership with us,” said the agency's Director of Investments, Ermínio Lucci, during the ceremony.
Investe SP assisted the project mainly by providing technical and strategic information about the cities that were under analysis by the company, and will continue to assist it with other demands from now on.
“In addition to generating new jobs and boost the economy, Serasa Experian São Carlos will be the heart of the company, with excellence in the development of innovative solutions and cutting edge technology. São Carlos is a privileged city today, recognized throughout Brazil as a technology hub,” said José Luiz Rossi, president of Serasa Experian.
According to the mayor Paulo Altomani, the investment of Serasa Experian is an achievement that reinforces the entrepreneurial vocation of São Carlos.” Over the past few years, our municipality has grown significantly and has become very attractive, leading large companies such as Airship, Orygen and now Serasa Experian to choose us to settle and invest millions, taking the name of São Carlos to other states and to the world," he said.
The new facility will have modern architecture, infrastructure and cutting-edge technology, which will enable the integration and collaboration among employees. In this first phase, approximately 500 employees will be divided into two offices, temporarily located in the city center. With the growth of operations, the new center should have the capacity for 1,500 employees.
Also according to Rossi, in times of crisis, it is important to have alternatives to get the country out of stagnation. The creation of Serasa Experian São Carlos is part of a continuous process so that the operating model is as efficient as possible and allow more flexibility and speed in decision-making, and thus, greater agility and efficiency in customer service. “Once we aggregate data with more efficiency and agility, the transactions of our customers will be more agile and simple from the procedural standpoint, thus promoting business growth in difficult times,” said the executive.
In addition, a greater synergy between Data and IT divisions in the same place, in a more collaborative environment, will facilitate communication and integration and allow the company to continue innovating. “Data and IT are at the core of what we do and are key elements for us to deliver our solutions,” said Rossi. Serasa Experian São Carlos will also be a reference in the inclusion of workers with disabilities, not only fulfilling the quota, but also helping other companies in the region to become inclusive.
Why São Carlos?
After a careful selection process, the choice of the city took approximately one year and started with 50 cities. The main concern of Serasa Experian was to choose a location that would have the necessary infrastructure to support the company’s growth, able to meet the needs of workers and their families.
Factors such as the Human Development Index (HDI), safety, good educational and health system were taken into account, as well as the proximity to major urban centers, universities and availability of skilled professionals. In the academic field, São Carlos is home to one of the most recognized schools of statistics, being a center of excellence in the education of professionals in the data area.
The company’s employees will work in the temporary office until the second half of the year, when they will move to the permanent office, in Miguel Abdelnur Industrial District. The economic growth and strong educational system make São Carlos one of the best cities in São Paulo for both living and investing. In 2014, the Ministry of Science pointed São Carlos as the third most innovative city in the country. Over the past seven years, São Carlos has always ranked among the top 100 cities in the country. In addition, according to a survey conducted by the Department of Statistics of UFSCar, there is a PhD professor for every 180 inhabitants of the city, a rate higher than that of many European countries.
The ceremony was also attended by the president of the City Council, Lucão Fernandes, council members Rodson Magno, Eduardo Brinquedos and Sérgio Rocha, the Secretary of Finance, José Roberto Poianas, the representative of congressman Lobbe Neto, the parliamentary assistant Paulo Melo and the directors of Serasa Experian, Amador Rodrigues (Customer Service), Lísias Lauretti (Information Technology), Paulo Melo (Enterprise Relations), Rodrigo Sanches (Data Operations), Sérgio Fernandes (Legal), Valdemir Bertolo (Finance), Vander Nagata (Consumer Information) and Victor Loyola (Business Information).
Serasa Experian
Serasa Experian is the Latin American leader in information services to support decision-making among companies. In Brazil, it is a synonym for solutions in all stages of the business cycle, from prospection to collections, offering the best tools to organizations. With deep knowledge of the Brazilian market, it combines the strength and tradition of the Serasa name with Experian’s global leadership. Founded in 1968, Serasa merged with the Experian Company in 2007. Serasa answers on-line/real-time to 6 million inquiries every day, helping 500,000 direct and indirect clients to make the best decision in any stage of business. It is the biggest Certifying Authority in Brazil, providing every kind of ICP-Brasil digital certificates, making business more secure, agile and profitable.
Constantly driven toward innovative solutions in credit, marketing, digital identity and business information, Serasa Experian has been contributing to the transformation of the information solutions market, with continuous incorporation of state-of-the-art intelligence and technology resources.