Despite their crucial role in generating 72% of employment in the country and representing 52% of the national GDP , micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) face an average life expectancy of only eight years due to various factors of risk. This worrying situation was discussed in the panel “Opportunities and Challenges in SMEs in 2024” organized by CIAL Dun & Bradstreet México.
John Soldevilla, general director of Ecobi explained that according to data from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Inegi) , 99.7% of the business universe in Mexico is made up of MSMEs , while only 0.3% are large companies.
According to Soldevilla, research indicates that these small and medium-sized companies are responsible for 32% of total sales and that 46% of their debt is with suppliers, while 34% is with banks, which indicates low financial penetration.
Business credit destined for MSMEs has decreased by 20% , representing only 14.9% of the total, which is alarming for the sector, Soldevilla said.
“This is one of the risks, there is little access to credit, banks and financial institutions are unlikely to provide financing to MSMEs for various reasons,” indicated the general director of Ecobi.
In comparison, 93% of large companies make their purchases through electronic transfers, a practice adopted by only 17% of MSMEs, this is another risk to the lives of small and medium-sized businesses since there is little access at the current technological forefront.
Soldevilla also detailed that nearshoring was identified as a key opportunity for Mexican SMEs . He advocated the development of an industrial policy that benefits small and medium-sized companies, allowing them to take advantage of this phenomenon.
For his part, Rodrigo Ramírez, product marketing manager at CIAL, highlighted the need for MSMEs to seek credibility and visibility to be able to work with large companies. He also emphasized the importance of self-assessment and the use of prospecting and evaluation platforms to mitigate risks and incorporate sustainability criteria.
In addition, another of the topics to be discussed by the panelists was artificial intelligence (AI) and its impact on companies . Jeshua Vallarta, director of Product Development and Design, EXUS expressed his reservations about AI, pointing out that although it allows the creation of new concepts, also poses risks for employment.
“Artificial intelligence allows you to create new concepts and the question is, will it be prudent and leave everything in the hands of an algorithm,” questioned Vallarta.
For his part, Juan Carlos Gutiérrez, panelist and founder and director of Champions Soccer Academy , warned about the social and academic challenges faced by youth, highlighting the need for companies to adapt their structures so as not to be negatively affected by the reduction of groups. of work due to AI.
Sergio Hernández, president and CEO of CIAL, concluded the event by highlighting the purpose of giving visibility to the importance of MSMEs in the Mexican economy and society , and how his company seeks to support these companies in their challenges of growth, access to markets and credibility. through an ecosystem of transparency and business data.
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