Technology is no longer just a support; it’s the heart of new operational strategies in foreign trade. Companies taking advantage aren’t doing so because of fashion, but because of necessity, such as reducing errors, avoiding risks, protecting data, and increasing productivity. The first step is understanding which processes can be transformed and how.
“Artificial Intelligence (AI) does not replace jobs, it replaces mechanical tasks and opens the way for more analytical roles,” said Eliseo Ortiz Valdez, founding partner of DA4 , at the 85th National Congress of Customs Agents of the Confederation of Associations of Customs Agents of the Mexican Republic (CAAAREM) .
Today, every piece of data counts; organizations that don’t know what information they generate, how they use it, or how to handle it safely are falling behind.
“Data is the new strategic asset. It fuels AI, but it can also be a vulnerability if not managed properly,” Ortiz warned.
In this regard, he highlighted the importance of reviewing data processing agreements even when using a simple chatbot .
But it’s not just about protection; it’s about prevention. Julio César Cantú Salazar, co-founder and CEO of AduanApp , suggested that AI can become an allied tool to avoid errors in tariff classification, automate processes from capture to invoicing, and reduce costs associated with delays or unnecessary storage.
“Our tool doesn’t replace the customs broker: it provides immediate suggestions, but the final decision is always yours,” Cantú Salazar said.
For Gabriel Muñoz, Director of Digital Transformation at Alestra , the arrival of AI is as disruptive as the internet was in the 1990s.
“We’re at a turning point. What’s coming is an ecosystem of virtual agents that collaborate with each other, make decisions, and automate entire processes,” Muñoz emphasized.
That change, he said, must be accompanied by robust technology architectures and backup systems with data integrity, to be able to recover from attacks such as ransomware (malicious software that retains data until a ransom is paid).
“The cloud enables everything from predictive analytics to digital locks that secure a box in transit,” the specialist explained.
Although technology is advancing at a rapid pace, the message was clear in both scenarios: there is still time to act, but not to wait. Because customs brokers, if they adopt these tools in a timely manner, will not only optimize their operations, they will also be key to increasing Mexico’s competitiveness.
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