El cargo Grupo Aralo improves safety and operations with Samsara technology apareció primero en T21.

Planning, the use of technology, and protocols are the main actions for safety in cargo movement, agreed specialists in the logistics sector.

According to Leonardo Gómez, executive president of the National Association of Private Transportation (ANTP) , 10 states in the country account for 93% of highway robberies ; 50% are concentrated in three of them.

“I believe we can focus on and address this situation with very good practices,” Gómez noted, during the panel “ Safe Routes: Overview of Good Practices ,” as part of the first day of activities at The Logistics World Summit & Expo .

In that regard, Eva María Muñoz, president of the Mexican Association of Freight Forwarders (Amacarga) , highlighted the importance of route planning , especially in urban areas, where, among other events, demonstrations could occur.

He emphasized the use of technologies that allow for vehicle monitoring, as well as having contingency protocols in place to act quickly, “since it can take us longer, not so much because of theft, but because of demonstrations, which put the driver and the goods at risk. When we have the last mile in urban areas, that’s when we encounter many complications.”

He considered it important to conduct a more in-depth investigation of service providers , how many robberies they have, what their normal handling statistics are, “so that we can have a certain level of security and deliver a better result.”

Muñoz said that, given the current risks, these types of actions must be carried out every day, as well as having information on the routes and times with the highest risk in order to avoid the area.

For his part, Luis Hernández, president of the Mexican Association of Intermodal Transportation (AMTI) , reiterated the use of technology, such as seals with GPS notifications, which allows them to know if there was a door opening, weight changes, among other aspects.

“Actually, the impact on rail traffic from point A to point B isn’t as significant as it can be in the final few miles. We’re working with the associations to see how we can collaborate by sharing the information we generate with our partners,” he emphasized.

He added that the control towers have been working through the logistics integrator, as they help to verify every point of the operation.

“It has grown a lot and has been very positive for the movement of our cargo. I reiterate, much of it has been in the first and last miles, which is where the scale of the operation is somewhat diminished by having to move only one or two containers per day, per hour, on a daily basis. In addition to that, the satellite monitoring seals have been very useful for us in generating statistics and developing a security strategy,” he explained.

Luis Villatoro, president of the National Association of Vehicle Tracking and Protection Companies (ANERPV) , mentioned that, in addition to prevention and technology, data analytics, artificial intelligence (AI), video telematics, GPS, and protocols such as training and professionalization of the human factor are necessary.

“If that human factor interacts correctly from the point of view of prevention, plus the support that artificial intelligence and technology can give you, of course, to track and trace the units, the response times to an incident, whatever it may be, a robbery or an accident, that may put the movement of that unit or the logistical operation at risk, consequently, it is the human factor that reacts based on criteria or standards,” he explained.

He explained that one of the standards is data analysis , as well as identifying the points where crimes are concentrated.

He considered it important to have a control tower, whose capacity can absorb information such as the closure of a road, an accident, such as the burning of vehicles, resulting from a criminal group or the arrest of a criminal leader.

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El cargo These actions help maintain safety during cargo movement apareció primero en T21.

In this context, the quality of operational data became one of the greatest challenges, even above the available technology.

During the 2024 Hot Sale, online sales in Mexico exceeded 34.5 billion pesos (mdp) , an increase of 15.3% compared to the previous year , with more than 14.4 million orders processed , according to data from the Mexican Online Sales Association (AMVO).

Up to 60% of the event’s total sales were made online , putting enormous pressure on delivery systems, especially considering that 94% of shoppers preferred home delivery .

For Jorge Jiménez, CEO of Conectamos, a Mexican startup specializing in logistics operational intelligence, the problem is not only one of capacity, but also of visibility and data fragmentation .

“Logistics is a highly reactive industry. Today, the big problem isn’t a lack of technology, but rather the failure of systems to adapt to the chaotic reality of the operating floor. At events like Hot Sale, this takes its toll,” he warned in an interview.

The avalanche of orders during Hot Sale exposes the cracks in the logistics infrastructure, as  limited capacity, low operational visibility, and disconnected processes—typically resolved with WhatsApp, Excel, or improvised emails —are the order of the day for many operators.

“Without real-time visibility, you can’t properly plan your capacity or be proactive. And that leads to high costs or delays that undermine the customer experience,” Jiménez explained.

This lack of structure not only affects peak season, as outside of Hot Sale, e-commerce in Mexico maintained a projected growth of 24% compounded annually until 2026 , making the need to modernize logistics operationswithout slowing the pace of delivery even more evident.

Faced with operational complexity, Conectamos opted for a radically different approach: an invisible technology layer that integrated with what operators were already using—such as chats, spreadsheets, and legacy ERPs—and gave them order, structure, and real-time visibility through Artificial Intelligence (AI).

“We didn’t impose a new system. We connected to what already existed, structured the data, and automated workflows. This allowed us to optimize routes, validate deliveries, and anticipate errors. All of this was frictionless and had no learning curve,” the CEO explained.

In that sense, Jiménez explained to this media outlet that in the case of unpredictable eventualities, for example, what has been happening at the port of Manzanillo due to the protest by customs workers, proactive communication is the best ally.

“Being warned in advance about a delay isn’t the same as finding out when you’re already upset. The end user is the one who pays the price. This affects both the reputation of the e-commerce and the shipping company,” Jiménez said.

In the midst of a high-demand season and facing an expanding e-commerce ecosystem, the keys to success, according to Jiménez, are organizing, visualizing, and anticipating .

“The key is having visibility into the operation. From there, we could make better decisions, allocate resources, optimize routes, and prevent the customer from finding out about problems when it was too late,” he emphasized.

Technology alone doesn’t solve the logistical challenges of Hot Sales, but when applied intelligently and focused on operational reality, it can make the difference between a successful campaign and a reputational crisis.

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El cargo Hot Sale, the hidden challenge in logistics and messy data apareció primero en T21.

In an environment where you first have to learn the rules of the game and then play, Gustavo Vargas, founding partner and general director of Grupo Ezencial , highlighted how the changing business landscape requires adapting and understanding new dynamics to capitalize on opportunities.

Their analysis highlighted the importance of reliable data and risk management strategies , in the context of the transformation of the offshoring model, to the digitalization of processes and the restructuring of the economy in Mexico.

“If we do not understand the new rules, our companies may be relegated to a red ocean, where competition becomes destructive, rather than taking advantage of emerging opportunities,” he said.

He added that the message is clear: knowing and adapting to these rules is essential to avoid losing ground in an increasingly demanding global market.

For decades, the offshoring model moved manufacturing to low-cost Asian countries, however, various factors have driven a new trend of relocating factories and services ( nearshoring ), especially in territories such as Mexico.

“Mexico is seen in the business world as the ‘rabbit on the moon,’ a metaphor for opportunities that many have yet to fully appreciate,” said Gustavo Vargas.

During 2023, historic levels of foreign direct investment were recorded , not only in new capital but also in reinvestments by companies that already had operations in Mexican territory, which reaffirms the credibility and development potential of the country, positioning it within the world’s top ten in attracting investments and purchase and sale operations, mergers and acquisitions.

In this regard, the executive pointed out that digitalisation has become a fundamental tool for competing in this new environment.

Vargas highlighted the need to transform information. For example, having unstructured data makes decision-making difficult, while structured data allows us to analyze the past, understand the present and project the future.

On the other hand, proper management of information prevents overpayments, tax contingencies and loss of credibility with authorities, so the use of specialized data analysis software allows inefficiencies to be detected and corrected in real time.

“Data has a soul, and it is the interpretation we give it that defines the future of our business,” said Gustavo Vargas

He also indicated that not only private companies are investing in digitalization, but Mexican authorities have made progress in consolidating digital systems that increase transparency and trust.

This symbiosis between the public and private sectors translates into greater guarantees for investors and the consolidation of a favourable environment for economic development.

Furthermore, the use of innovative concepts such as neuroeconomics allows us to explore how intangible factors – including mental health and the emotional environment in organizations – can impact business efficiency and growth.

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El cargo The new era of business in Mexico, heading towards digital transformation apareció primero en T21.