In an environment marked by automation, digital transformation, the internationalization of services, and the impending reduction of the workday in Mexico , logistics and technology companies face a common challenge: attracting, developing, and retaining talent with technical skills, critical thinking, adaptability, and openness to change.
Today, more than specialists, they seek people capable of learning quickly, collaborating in multicultural environments, and staying relevant in a world where the only constant is transformation.
For Américo Flores , Director of Human Development at Onest Smart Logistics , the challenge begins with perception.
“Logistics has been viewed for years as the invisible part of the supply chain. We don’t have a logistics school as such, nor are we on the radar of young people as a sexy industry,” he noted.
This situation has become more critical in the face of direct competition with the manufacturing industry , which typically offers better salaries for workers and technicians.
“Today we are fighting for talent with a sector that has traditionally been stronger in its salary offerings and that also already has a place in the imagination of young people as a symbol of professional advancement,” he said.
Faced with this reality, Onest Smart Logistics has implemented internal training strategies, cross-training, and collaboration with technical schools to strengthen the dual educational model.
“The logistics operator of the future must understand automation, lean manufacturing (optimizing production), control systems, and even some basic programming. If we don’t prepare them for that environment, we’ll lose them,” Flores warned.
A similar view, albeit from a different angle, is shared by José Luis Guasco, partner responsible for the Consulting area at EY GDS Mexico .
This division is a global operation that exports professional services from Mexico to markets such as the United States, Canada, Europe, and Latin America.
“We are part of the knowledge industry. Our focus is on developing the best professionals, not only to serve the local market, but also to compete on a global stage,” Guasco explained.
EY GDS chose Mexico as its regional base of operations after analyzing factors such as talent availability, technological infrastructure, and proximity to key markets .
Today it has nearly 600 professionals in areas such as strategy, technology, advanced analytics, assurance, and quality, all working on projects for multinational clients.
“Multiculturalism is part of our daily work. We have professionals who work in English, but also in Portuguese, Italian, or French. Some even have to travel for weeks or months to collaborate directly with teams in the United States, Canada, or Europe. Therefore, in addition to technical knowledge, we look for people with resilience, proactivity, communication skills, and a desire to constantly grow,” he emphasized.
In this context, the approach to talent development is as important as its initial attraction.
EY GDS has built a mentoring model based on two key figures : one who guides new employees through their first 90 days, resolving basic questions, and the other who designs a personalized career plan with them, connecting them with project, technology, and industry leaders.
“We don’t expect someone to arrive with 100% of the necessary skills. If they have 60% or 70% of the necessary knowledge, we develop the rest with agile training programs and real-world project exposure. This accelerates their learning and prepares them to add value quickly,” Guasco commented.
On the other hand, Onest Smart Logistics works to reduce the learning curve through intensive practical training programs , where operators, supervisors, and technicians are trained in new digital tools and automated processes.
“Collaboration is essential. The ‘lone hero’ who saves the project in the last week no longer works. Today, we need constant communication, information sharing, and acting as a team from day one,” Flores added.
Mexico, still far from digital maturity, but with great potential
Despite the growth of digital initiatives, Guasco warned that only 1% of companies in Mexico have reached the digital maturity they set out to achieve, according to the report Digital Maturity in Mexico 2025 , prepared by EY in collaboration with the American Chamber of Commerce .
“This speaks to a great opportunity for Mexican talent and for companies like ours. There’s a huge need for professionals with skills in artificial intelligence, advanced analytics, cybersecurity, application development, and cloud infrastructure management,” he said.
In both logistics and technology, talent is the scarcest and most valuable resource. But it’s no longer just about knowing how to operate a machine or program an app; it’s about being able to learn quickly, collaborate in global teams, adapt to constant change, and have a holistic view of the business .
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