Ten years after its birth, the National Council of Executives in Logistics and Supply Chain (ConaLog) made it clear that its greatest asset is not events or figures, but the deliberate construction of a professional community that decided to take the future of logistics in Mexico into its own hands.

Speaking to associates and allies, Hugo Ruiz, president of ConaLog, did not simply present a historical overview. He offered a comprehensive analysis of what it has meant to consolidate an organization that arose—in his own words—from a concrete conviction: “A decade ago, ConaLog was born from a clear vision: to professionalize and unite the actors in the supply chain in Mexico .”

The anniversary, he emphasized, is not a mere formality, but rather a recognition of a collective effort. “Today, this celebration is not just a party, but a recognition of the shared effort that has brought us all to this point,” he noted, underscoring the honorary nature of the work that has sustained the organization throughout these years.

Ruiz summarized the journey in four concepts that, more than slogans, outline the organization’s institutional architecture: community, knowledge, collaboration, and impact . The community, he explained, has become a vibrant network with more than 200 members distributed across various cities in the country, actively participating in forums, workshops, and alliances that go beyond superficial exchange.

This network has been the vehicle for driving the second pillar: knowledge. In a decade, ConaLog has fostered spaces for discussion and learning that have raised standards and accelerated the adoption of solutions. Events, panels, and initiatives have contributed to shaping critical thinking in a sector where intuition is no longer enough and technological sophistication is redefining the rules of the game.

However, Ruiz was clear in identifying collaboration as the organization’s defining characteristic. “At ConaLog, collaboration is not just a practice, it’s our reason for being,” he stated . This collaboration is not limited to exchanges among members; it has extended to building bridges with other associations, coordinating with the government to contribute technical expertise to public policy, and forging links with educational institutions to strengthen talent and innovation.

The message aligned with the institutional video shown during the event, which emphasized that logistics excellence “doesn’t happen by accident ,” but is the result of informed decisions, coordination, and a shared vision. The video traced the movement’s origins, from the Council of Logistics Management’s Mexico roundtable to the decision to build a community with its own identity, adapted to the Mexican context.

This shared identity, according to the account, allowed for the consolidation of a non-profit organization focused on professional development, meaningful networking , and continuous learning. Executives, specialists, academics, and new generations have found in ConaLog a space where exchange transforms into trust and resilience is built through strategy.

The current context, however, demands greater ambition . Ruiz described an environment marked by constant disruptions, demands for operational excellence, and a talent pool that has become the decisive factor for sustaining growth. Added to this is Mexico’s strategic position regarding regional integration and nearshoring .

Given this scenario, he posed a direct question to the audience: what role does ConaLog want to play in the next 10 years? “We want to play a more relevant and useful role . We want to move beyond being a meeting point to also being a capabilities platform,” he replied.

The proposed roadmap rests on three lines of action. The first: a competitive, data-driven agenda. “Less intuition, more metrics. Less anecdotes, more evidence ,” he stated, proposing benchmarks and best practices to improve the performance of the logistics ecosystem.

The second: talent and professionalization , through training pathways built with academic, industry and government partners, with an emphasis on mentoring and closing digital and language gaps, particularly English, which are now crucial for productivity and leadership.

The third: innovation with purpose . Digitization, visibility, interoperability, responsible use of artificial intelligence and automation, but with a practical approach focused on return on investment. It’s not about adopting technology because it’s trendy, but because of its impact.

The closing remarks were less rhetorical and more practical. “All of this isn’t achieved through speeches, it’s achieved through participation ,” Ruiz emphasized, urging members to share case studies, data, mentorship, and proposals.

A decade after its founding, ConaLog not only celebrated its continued existence, but also reaffirmed its commitment to influencing the country’s strategic conversation, rigorously professionalizing the field, and transforming networking into a true capabilities platform. If the first stage was one of consolidation, the next—according to the anniversary message itself—will be one of impact .

Comment and follow us on LinkedIn:  @Enrique Duarte Rionda  /  @GrupoT21

El cargo ConaLog: from community to strategic platform apareció primero en T21.

Ten years after its birth, the National Council of Executives in Logistics and Supply Chain (ConaLog) made it clear that its greatest asset is not events or figures, but the deliberate construction of a professional community that decided to take the future of logistics in Mexico into its own hands.

Speaking to associates and allies, Hugo Ruiz, president of ConaLog, did not simply present a historical overview. He offered a comprehensive analysis of what it has meant to consolidate an organization that arose—in his own words—from a concrete conviction: “A decade ago, ConaLog was born from a clear vision: to professionalize and unite the actors in the supply chain in Mexico .”

The anniversary, he emphasized, is not a mere formality, but rather a recognition of a collective effort. “Today, this celebration is not just a party, but a recognition of the shared effort that has brought us all to this point,” he noted, underscoring the honorary nature of the work that has sustained the organization throughout these years.

Ruiz summarized the journey in four concepts that, more than slogans, outline the organization’s institutional architecture: community, knowledge, collaboration, and impact . The community, he explained, has become a vibrant network with more than 200 members distributed across various cities in the country, actively participating in forums, workshops, and alliances that go beyond superficial exchange.

This network has been the vehicle for driving the second pillar: knowledge. In a decade, ConaLog has fostered spaces for discussion and learning that have raised standards and accelerated the adoption of solutions. Events, panels, and initiatives have contributed to shaping critical thinking in a sector where intuition is no longer enough and technological sophistication is redefining the rules of the game.

However, Ruiz was clear in identifying collaboration as the organization’s defining characteristic. “At ConaLog, collaboration is not just a practice, it’s our reason for being,” he stated . This collaboration is not limited to exchanges among members; it has extended to building bridges with other associations, coordinating with the government to contribute technical expertise to public policy, and forging links with educational institutions to strengthen talent and innovation.

The message aligned with the institutional video shown during the event, which emphasized that logistics excellence “doesn’t happen by accident ,” but is the result of informed decisions, coordination, and a shared vision. The video traced the movement’s origins, from the Council of Logistics Management’s Mexico roundtable to the decision to build a community with its own identity, adapted to the Mexican context.

This shared identity, according to the account, allowed for the consolidation of a non-profit organization focused on professional development, meaningful networking , and continuous learning. Executives, specialists, academics, and new generations have found in ConaLog a space where exchange transforms into trust and resilience is built through strategy.

The current context, however, demands greater ambition . Ruiz described an environment marked by constant disruptions, demands for operational excellence, and a talent pool that has become the decisive factor for sustaining growth. Added to this is Mexico’s strategic position regarding regional integration and nearshoring .

Given this scenario, he posed a direct question to the audience: what role does ConaLog want to play in the next 10 years? “We want to play a more relevant and useful role . We want to move beyond being a meeting point to also being a capabilities platform,” he replied.

The proposed roadmap rests on three lines of action. The first: a competitive, data-driven agenda. “Less intuition, more metrics. Less anecdotes, more evidence ,” he stated, proposing benchmarks and best practices to improve the performance of the logistics ecosystem.

The second: talent and professionalization , through training pathways built with academic, industry and government partners, with an emphasis on mentoring and closing digital and language gaps, particularly English, which are now crucial for productivity and leadership.

The third: innovation with purpose . Digitization, visibility, interoperability, responsible use of artificial intelligence and automation, but with a practical approach focused on return on investment. It’s not about adopting technology because it’s trendy, but because of its impact.

The closing remarks were less rhetorical and more practical. “All of this isn’t achieved through speeches, it’s achieved through participation ,” Ruiz emphasized, urging members to share case studies, data, mentorship, and proposals.

A decade after its founding, ConaLog not only celebrated its continued existence, but also reaffirmed its commitment to influencing the country’s strategic conversation, rigorously professionalizing the field, and transforming networking into a true capabilities platform. If the first stage was one of consolidation, the next—according to the anniversary message itself—will be one of impact .

Comment and follow us on LinkedIn:  @Enrique Duarte Rionda  /  @GrupoT21

El cargo ConaLog: from community to strategic platform apareció primero en T21.

After assuming the presidency of the National Council of Logistics and Supply Chain Executives (ConaLog) in 2021, Sandra Aragonez stepped down as president of this organization, and Hugo Ruiz took over the position.

According to information shared on its LinkedIn account, Conalog stated that the key pillars of Hugo Ruiz’s management will be listening to its members to identify new opportunities, strengthening strategic alliances, promoting social responsibility and diversity in logistics, as well as fostering collaboration with other logistics and retail associations to generate value and strengthen ConaLog’s presence in the logistics ecosystem in Mexico.

In addition to Hugo Ruiz as president, the new Board of Directors will be composed of the following vice presidents : María Teresa Renán, General Director of Ubictum, and Stefan Senra, COO of G-Global.

Meanwhile, the advisors will be:

• Iliana Gamiz, Co-founder of e2e Supply Chain Services.
• Felipe Ordóñez Medellin, general director of Promologistics.
• Héctor Romero Sánchez, General Director of Transportation and Logistics Romero.
• Javier Serrano Villaseñor, Supply Chain Consultant.
• Leonardo Mendoza, director of Cross Border at Landstar Metro.
• Andres López Frisbie, General Director of Logistics at Grupo Bimbo.
• Miguel Angel Alvarado Diaz, Research Professor of Logistics and Supply Chain, and Business Consultant.
• Victor Benavidez, Senior Vice President of Business Development for LatAm at GEODIS.
• Nancy D. Díaz, Supply Chain Director of SLOAN Mexico.
• José Guzmán Salas, Supply Chain Consultant at Logistify.
• Gabo Zúñiga, VP and General Manager of Landstar Metro.

Comment and follow us on X:  @GrupoT21

El cargo Conalog renews its presidency. Who makes up the new board of directors? apareció primero en T21.

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.

Comment and follow us on X: @jenna_GH_ / @GrupoT21

El cargo Logistics and the Automation Challenge apareció primero en T21.