Shared Service Centers in Uruguay

What Is a Shared Services Center, and Why Uruguay?

A shared services center (SSC) consolidates into a single location the tasks that a multinational company previously distributed among its subsidiaries: finance and accounting, human resources, procurement, technology, customer service, and data analysis. The goal is simple: more efficient processes, common standards, and more predictable costs.

Uruguay has become one of Latin America's top destinations for this business model. Companies such as Sabre, Tata Consultancy Services, Citi, Despegar, and Mercado Libre serve clients and subsidiaries around the world from Uruguay. This is not due to a single advantage, but rather to a combination of talent, stability, infrastructure, and a legal framework designed to support the export of services.

Five Reasons to Set Up a CSC in Uruguay

1. Qualified, multilingual talent. Uruguay offers professionals with strong academic backgrounds, proficiency in English and Portuguese, and high levels of digital literacy.
2. Strategic time zone. It allows us to work in real time with the United States, Latin America, and part of the European workday.
3. Stability and legal certainty. Clear and stable rules are a decisive factor for Operations , which are planned for 10 years or more.
4. Digital infrastructure. Uruguay is a regional leader in connectivity and fiber-optic coverage.
5. A legal framework for exporting services. There are two main paths:
   • Free Trade Zone: Users of free trade zones (Law 15,921) are exempt from national taxes on the activities they carry out within the zone, with the exception of social security contributions.
   • Regime Under the CSC (Decree 251/014 and amendments): Centers that create 100 or more skilled jobs and invest in training are exempt from 70% to 90% of the IRAE for at least 5 years. Decree 257/024 extended the exemption periods.

Choosing the right route depends on the type of service, the customers' destination, and the scale of the Operation. That is why it is advisable to evaluate this with expert guidance from the very beginning.

What types of centers can be set up, and what does each one require?

Financial back office. It centralizes accounts payable and receivable, treasury, and reporting for the region’s subsidiaries. It requires scalable offices and information security controls.

Human Resources Center. It manages regional payroll, recruitment, and benefits administration. It requires personal data protection and rooms for interviews and training sessions.

IT and Software Center. It develops, supports, and operates technology infrastructure for clients and group companies. It requires a nearby data center and redundant connectivity.

Customer service. Provides multilingual support to several countries. Requires spaces with a high density of workstations and backup power to ensure uninterrupted service.

Why Choose Zonamerica

We are Uruguay’s longest-standing global services free trade zone. We have been operating since 1990 in a 92-hectare e campus on along Route 8 in Montevideo, just minutes from Carrasco International Airport. Today, we are a community of more than 7,000 people and more than 500 companies across more than 14 industries.

In 2025, fDi Intelligence recognized us as the most sustainable free trade zone in the Americas, and in 2026 we received the “Marca País Uruguay” license.

Our “ campus ” is home to some of the largest shared service centers in the country. Sabre moved in in 2004 with 100 employees and now has over 800 employees in a space of more than 5,000 m². Insigneo, PwC, and Despegar also chose us for their regional “ Operations .”

Beyond the fiscal “ Regime ,” what sets us apart is our “ Operation ” turnkey solution. We offer ready-to-use or custom-designed corporate offices, redundant connectivity, 24/7 security, and services to support teams’ day-to-day needs: dining, transportation, a gym, healthcare, and green spaces. This is how we accelerate the ramp-up process and help each company attract and retain talent.

Businesses located in a free trade zone may operate in a hybrid model if they meet the “ Regime ” for remote work in free trade zones established by Decree 69/024.