VERACRUZ, VER.- Digitalization is no longer a promise, but the turning point that is redefining the concept of port terminals in Mexico. Automation, artificial intelligence, data connectivity, and energy sustainability are shaping a new operational framework where efficiency is measured in seconds, not hours. At the panel “Smart Terminals and Strategic Connectivity,” held during the 29th Annual Congress of Shipping Agents of the Mexican Association of Shipping Agents (Amanac) , the country’s leading port and logistics operators presented a compelling diagnosis: the competitiveness of Mexican foreign trade will depend on the speed with which its terminals become true smart ports .

“For us, this year has been an opportunity to implement and take that leap,” stated Omar Lima Castillo, Director of Terminals at Grupo CICE . From Veracruz, the company has opted for a comprehensive model where data flows between interconnected systems, ranging “from billing and service scheduling to the manifests shared by shipping lines.” CICE has built its own smart port concept , where every decision is based on predictive analytics: from the ship’s initial maneuver to cargo placement in the yards . “A release that previously required someone to go to a window now takes only seconds,” he pointed out. Digital efficiency, he added, not only translates into operational speed but also into sustainability, as its fleet already operates with hybrid and electric equipment, aligned with clean energy programs.

A technological vision also guides Hutchison Ports Mexico , whose Operations Director, Carlos del Castillo, described an expanding digital ecosystem. “We are increasing our capacity by 60% with digitized operations and models that leverage artificial intelligence as a catalyst for efficiency and connectivity .” In Veracruz, the company’s control centers operate with algorithms capable of “thinking, planning, and predicting” in the face of any disruption. Their goal is to reduce CO2 emissions by 54% by 2030, a commitment supported by the fact that “more than 50% of the equipment is already electric.” But this progress, he emphasized, does not replace human talent: “We leverage technology so that our people can thrive, define new roles, and get the most out of it.”

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