The growth of logistics operations is also increasing risks within warehouses and distribution centers , especially in a context where companies prioritize productivity, automation and volume, but do not always update their industrial safety schemes.

Warehouses ceased to be static spaces after the COVID-19 pandemic and now function as “living places,” with constant movement of materials, goods entering and leaving, overcrowding, and permanent changes in operation , which increases vulnerability to risks, mainly fires, according to Eurídice Ibarlucea, International Business Development Manager for Mexico at NFPA and member of the Expo Seguridad Industrial educational council .

Even in facilities that have automatic fire protection systems, the problem arises when the volume or type of materials changes from the original calculation.

“If I start adding volumes that are not what they were designed for, it is very likely that even if I have a fire suppression system, it will not be able to extinguish it,” he commented.

In addition to fire, he warned that there are other critical factors within the logistics and storage operation , such as unmaintained electrical installations , incorrect mixing of materials, blocked evacuation routes, and structural overloading in racks or storage areas.

Ibarlucea explained that many times companies concentrate their investments on expanding production, acquiring machinery or increasing operational capacity, but leave out of the budget the safety adjustments that these same changes require .

The specialist explained that one of the main challenges is that Mexican regulations are not keeping pace with new industrial technologies , particularly in matters related to lithium batteries, electric forklifts, and new automated systems.

As an example, he mentioned: “Nowhere, in any regulation today, is the issue of risks from lithium batteries mentioned.”

Beyond the loss of merchandise, he indicated that an incident can directly affect operational continuity, generate breaches of contract and even compromise the financial viability of a company.

“It could lead to contract losses, it could practically bankrupt the company if I don’t deliver the contracts that sustain me,” he explained.

According to data shared by the specialist, in the United States 37% of fire incidents in industry originate in warehouses and 70% of material losses resulting from fires are related to these spaces.

For logistics and transport companies , he considered that the first step should be to correctly classify the stored materials and separate risks to prevent an incident from spreading.

He also recommended strengthening early detection systems, alarms, monitoring, and evacuation protocols, especially in distribution centers with high merchandise turnover.

“Innovation seeks to make us more productive, more efficient and more economical, but not necessarily safer,” he warned.

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Despite the fact that the grocery sector in Mexico is going through a period of slowdown, Grupo Sahuayo expects to grow up to 7% in 2026 and reach sales that could exceed one billion dollars (mdd), for which strategic investments and transformations will be made in the company.

Dieter Holtz, CEO of Grupo Sahuayo, a company dedicated to wholesale and semi-wholesale of groceries, assured that in the coming years the company will achieve growth in the range of 4% to 7% , after stagnating for a few years like those before the COVID-19 pandemic.

During this health crisis, growth peaked at up to 20%, the company reported in a statement.

This year, sales are projected to grow by 3% , with revenues of one billion dollars, according to the executive, who says he is optimistic and expects the company to reach sales of two billion dollars in the coming years and organic growth of between 4% and 7%. These levels have already been achieved in some regions of the country.

“We are going to make several decisions to kick-start the company’s growth: boost innovation, achieve operational excellence, and consolidate the corporate structure,” explained Dieter Holtz and Javier García, CFO of the firm.

Since joining the company in the second half of this year, they have made tactical adjustments, and above all, “we are now working better with the available data to achieve greater profitability for our suppliers, we are lowering costs, improving delivery times and expanding the customer base, among other things,” the executives explained.

Among their plans is to expand the use of technology and the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to better understand the market and the changing consumption patterns of Mexicans; “we are developing market intelligence to better serve our clients, which can range from a micro-business to a large grocery store.”

Grupo Sahuayo has 25 distribution centers and virtually nationwide coverage . The company has identified distinct opportunities in each region of the country.

Northern Mexico and the Bajío region are two of the areas with the greatest potential. In the latter, geographic concentration and available infrastructure allow for more efficient logistics . The southeastern region faces geographic, demographic, and economic challenges, but cities like Mérida, Oaxaca, and Tapachula are experiencing significant growth; Tapachula also serves as a natural export hub to Central America.

In the Pacific region, Culiacán is performing well despite the security situation, while Tijuana is combining local growth with attention to the so-called “nostalgia channel” in the United States. Mexico City and its metropolitan area are also among the areas with expansion potential.

“We are going to accelerate greater value and profitable sales for the brands that entrust their business to us, expand our customer base, and take a close look at product portfolios,” said Dieter Holtz.

Meanwhile, Javier García emphasized that they are focusing operations on improving their cash flow to strategically reinvest “in our growth and are analyzing financial solutions for our customer base as one of the new value-added platforms for our channels.”

The grocery business is very dynamic and constantly changing, and with the use of new technologies applied to banking systems, it will become even more demanding. Furthermore, new players with increasingly innovative products and services are entering the market every year.

In September 2025, the performance of the commercial sector in Mexico had mixed results, according to the  Monthly Survey on Commercial Enterprises (EMEC) , which revealed a monthly increase of 2.5% in wholesale trade and a stagnation of retail trade, according to the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Inegi) .

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Improvements in technology and cost reduction have significantly boosted the adoption of automation in Mexico, so today solutions are much more robust, stable and easier to maintain, said Hugo Ruiz, founding director of the National Council of Executives in Logistics and Supply Chain (ConaLog) .

In an interview with T21, Ruiz highlighted that a decade ago companies were faced with expensive and unreliable solutions, but this change allows more and more Mexican companies to implement automated distribution centers , as is the case of Coppel , which recently opened one of the most advanced centers in the country.

On the other hand, Ruiz emphasized that the goal of automation should not be the total replacement of labor, but rather to relieve areas that require greater physical effort and are more prone to turnover.

“The idea is not to eliminate all human work, but to adopt a hybrid approach where automation is implemented in the parts that hurt the most,” he said.

This makes it possible to address issues such as a lack of manpower in certain locations, where it is difficult to find skilled or experienced employees.

In this regard, Hugo Ruiz said that the industry is moving towards collaborative automation , which involves humans and robots working together.

While some positions are affected, mainly low-skilled ones, the need for talent to oversee and maintain these systems increases.

“The lack of qualified workers is one of the great challenges facing the industry. We need to train technicians specialised in automation and digitalisation, not necessarily engineers, but technical personnel prepared to keep robots, cranes and systems operating,” he added.

In addition to improving efficiency, automation offers a solution to the space problem , as many companies are opting for vertical structures to maximize capacity on smaller land areas.

“The lack of land in industrial areas is forcing companies to build upwards. It is now possible to double storage capacity by building up to 12 floors, which allows for optimising space and reducing costs,” said Ruiz.

The specialist shared that despite this, the logistics industry faces crucial challenges , including a notable shortage of trained talent and the need to implement technologies that make operations more efficient and sustainable.

One of the most relevant challenges for Ruiz is the justification of the return on investment (ROI) in automation projects, considering the size of the initial investment.

“Each company has different financial policies; some can accept an ROI of up to 10 years, while others seek to recover it in less than five,” he said.

Implementing advanced technology requires ensuring that the long-term benefits justify the investment, so Ruiz anticipated that with more affordable technology, the return on investment will be more favorable, motivating more companies to explore automated solutions.

Likewise, according to Hugo Ruiz, one of the fundamental aspects before starting an automation process is to ensure that it is aligned with the company’s strategy .

“It is essential to understand the company’s strategies and ensure that the project is fully aligned with them,” he explained.

He said that before investing in technology, a thorough analysis of critical points or bottlenecks in the operation must be carried out, prioritizing the areas where automation can make a significant difference in productivity and efficiency.

The future of automation

Ruiz sees the future of automation in Mexico pointing to accelerated growth of automated distribution centers.

He also stressed the importance of investing in human capital training to ensure that systems are implemented effectively.

Furthermore, the advancement of artificial intelligence will transform automation systems into smarter and more adaptive tools.

“Automation solutions with artificial intelligence will begin to make decisions autonomously, optimizing warehouse space and improving inventory management,” he said.

For Hugo Ruiz, the key for the Mexican logistics industry to advance in automation is a collaboration between the private sector , academia and the government, to train the talent that the country needs.

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The last logistical mile is the new bet of the Mexican Real Estate Bank (BIM) .

This financial institution specialized in granting different types of loans aims to take advantage of the real estate boom that is currently happening in Mexico, with the opening of a loan focused on the construction of storage warehouses (distribution centers) for the so-called last mile.

The credit can finance up to 65% of the total cost of real estate development , provide a 30% advance payment and is set for a term of up to 10 years.

Gregorio Sánchez, corporate business director of BIM, explained in an interview with T21 that the bank’s outlook is positive and the plan is to place at least 500 million pesos for this year.

“We will be very, very successful,” he predicted within the framework of the BIM 2024 Territorial Tour.

He indicated that within his analysis is that in the Mexican real estate market up to 500 thousand square meters of leased inventory have been inserted in just the first four months of this year, a growth of almost 35% compared to the same cycle of the year. past; In addition, they estimate that in 2023, 350 new industrial projects will begin , which is equivalent to 5.3 million m2 under construction.

Specialists have indicated that both the strength of the domestic market and the arrival of new companies to the country (with nearshoring ) have strengthened the industrial and logistics real estate market.

Sánchez Hernández explained that BIM’s intention is to offer credits for the different markets in the Mexican Republic , such as Mexico City and its metropolitan area, Bajío and the north of the country, as well as the southeast and even those close to the main commercial ports. .

One of the main characteristics for granting credit is that developers already have clients for the different distribution centers they plan to build.

BIM is a financial institution that this year is celebrating its first decade of operations in Mexico.

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