For years, much of the information about an accident arrived after it had already happened. Today, artificial intelligence (AI), telemetry, cameras, and real-time monitoring are making it possible to change that approach, identifying risks, prioritizing events, and acting before a situation escalates .
According to specialists, during the panel “Expanding the Horizon: Lessons from Leaders Who Are Transforming Efficiency and Safety” , held at Samsara Intelligent Operations , with the participation of Sebastián Peña, CEO and co-founder of Veikul ; Héctor Alfaro, corporate director of Road Safety at ETN ; Ángel Garibay, general director of ALA Transportes, Trayecto unit (number 1 of the Top 100 of Autotransporte® ), and Javier Pedroza, director of Technologies of Grupo Tomza .
One of the main points of agreement was that simply incorporating technology is not enough. In that sense, transformation occurs when available information can be integrated and used to make better decisions and improve processes within companies, Garibay said.
In the transportation sector, he explained, companies have access to information from telemetry, in-vehicle cameras, artificial intelligence, and real-time visibility. The challenge lies in consolidating this information and supporting it with processes , updated protocols, and a continuous focus on prevention.
“Technology alone does not transform security,” Garibay stated.
The executive explained that the information must reach operators, dispatch managers, and security teams in a way that allows them to better understand what is happening in the operation and make decisions.
For Trayecto , AI is also enabling the processing of a vast amount of information that would be complex for a person to analyze alone. Garibay noted that these tools help identify patterns, prioritize exceptions, and interpret thousands of events to direct attention where it is needed.
However, he clarified that this does not mean replacing the experience of those behind the wheel or those managing safety and operations.
“It comes to strengthen them, it comes to empower them,” he said.
From accident to prevention
From the passenger transport sector, Alfaro argued that artificial intelligence must advance hand in hand with human talent, through training and awareness-raising for drivers.
He recalled that previously, after an accident, data was collected and later used to develop protocols. Now, he noted, tools like Samsara allow for real-time information review and support for drivers with the goal of reducing accidents and improving efficiency.
For Alfaro, the incorporation of technology should also be viewed from an investment perspective.
“Investing in security and technology is not an expense, it is truly a strategic decision,” he said.
The executive explained that leveraging artificial intelligence tools can result in fewer accidents, lower maintenance costs, reduced fuel consumption, and greater fleet availability . In the case of passenger transport, he added that it also leads to increased user confidence.
But the return is not limited to financial indicators. “The true return on investment is not only reflected in financial indicators. It is also seen in lives protected, operational continuity, and the reputation of the companies themselves,” Alfaro explained.
Technology without leaving people out
The integration of technology and human capital was also one of the points raised by Javier Pedroza , who explained that at Grupo Tomza both elements are seen as part of the same operation.
I shared that five years ago, in one of their operations, they recorded between three and four security incidents per month , while currently that incidence has been reduced to practically zero, a result that I attributed to the integration of technological tools.
He also pointed out that these tools allow working with operators in a different way: not only identifying a fault or calling their attention to it, but also providing them with information that can serve as a parameter for improvement.
From another perspective on mobility, Sebastián Peña argued that technological advancement does not necessarily imply displacing drivers.
He explained that at Veikul they see technology as a tool capable of accompanying the driver in their daily activities and helping them improve their driving habits and style.
The experts agreed that the human factor remains central to the technological transformation of transportation.
In this regard, Alfaro explained that going forward there will be more predictive artificial intelligence, increasingly connected vehicles, process automation, real-time data-driven management, and faster and more accurate decisions .
“Our challenge as leaders today is to use technology, especially artificial intelligence, for better decision-making, but without losing sight of the fact that people will always be at the center,” he commented.
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