In an era before social media and when technology was just beginning to become part of everyday life, foreign trade relied on physical documentation, manual validations, and considerably long processing times. RECO , now a business unit of Grupo Inversor Veracruzano (GRIVER) , was born as a pioneer in the technological transformation of the customs sector in Mexico.
Currently, in an environment where digitalization is constantly redefining the rules of foreign trade, the company commemorated its 30th anniversary .
During the celebration, Edgar López Hernández , CEO of GRIVER, recalled that RECO was founded in 1996 in Veracruz, at a pivotal moment for the country, marked by trade liberalization and the challenges arising from the North American Free Trade Agreement. From its inception, he explained, the company responded to an urgent need: to improve efficiency and connectivity in foreign trade operations through the use of technology .
“The internet was just beginning to gain momentum, and networks became the means to connect the nodes of the business. This is how RECO emerged, as an acronym for Networks and Consulting in Foreign Trade,” he noted.
The executive highlighted that, from its early years, the company developed innovative solutions such as systems for generating customs declarations and one of the first pre-validation systems in the country, laying the foundations for what is now a key technological ecosystem for customs agencies, importers and exporters.
In an interview with T21, López indicated that, over three decades, RECO has evolved in step with the regulatory and operational demands of Mexican foreign trade , adapting to structural changes in customs, ports and regulations.
For López, one of the biggest current challenges is the adoption of technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and digitization , as well as anticipating the transformations driven by the authority.
“The greatest contribution we can make today is to anticipate, integrate regulations into our developments, and offer timely solutions that help our clients comply and operate efficiently,” he said.
For his part, Juan Montiel, commercial director of RECO, reviewed some of the most relevant milestones in the company’s history, such as the development of the first customs declaration capture systems in a Windows environment, the creation of comprehensive platforms for customs operations, and the expansion towards new players in foreign trade.
He also highlighted the evolution towards data-driven and AI-based models, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic, a period that accelerated the company’s digital transformation.
“Companies will not disappear because of artificial intelligence, but they will because of competition that does adopt it,” he warned, citing a reflection on the future of the sector.
Beyond technology, the event also emphasized the human factor as a key element in RECO’s trajectory. Employees highlighted the organizational culture , teamwork, and adaptability as elements that have allowed the company to remain relevant for 30 years.
Today, RECO positions itself as a benchmark in technological innovation applied to foreign trade , with solutions that seek not only to optimize processes, but also to guarantee security, traceability and regulatory compliance.
Looking ahead, the company is committed to expanding its reach to new users and strengthening the development of interconnected digital ecosystems , in line with the growing demands of an increasingly complex and digitized foreign trade.
“We hope that these first 30 years are just the beginning of many more,” said López Hernández.
Specifically, Ricardo Víctores, Director of Digital Business, emphasized that the challenge is not only to adopt technology, but to integrate it strategically into the entire foreign trade ecosystem.
“Live data, automation, risk management with artificial intelligence, and interoperability will no longer be differentiators; they will be indispensable,” he stated.
Likewise, RECO aims to consolidate itself as a comprehensive technological enabler of foreign trade, expanding its reach beyond customs agencies to serve all actors in the logistics chain .
The company is working on the development of interconnected platforms that support each stage of an operation, from import planning to final delivery, incorporating tools based on real-time data, regulatory compliance automation, and artificial intelligence solutions.
This approach seeks to respond to an increasingly complex environment, where efficiency, traceability and the ability to anticipate regulatory changes will be critical factors of competitiveness.
“We are not waiting for the authorities to make it mandatory; today we are already developing solutions so that our clients not only adapt, but become leaders within the sector,” Víctores emphasized.
Comment and follow us on LinkedIn: @Jennifer Galindo / @GrupoT21
