During the presentation of the analysis, Ricardo Delfín , lead partner of Clients and Market at KPMG Mexico, highlighted that although reservations persist about global and national economic performance, almost 80% of the companies surveyed expect to grow in Mexico , and nearly half estimate sales increases of more than 6%, well above economic growth projections.
“Companies are learning to operate in an ambiguous and changing world. Disruption, complexity, and uncertainty are now part of the everyday language of senior management,” Delfín noted.
The study, which gathered the opinions of more than 500 C-level executives and key decision-makers , revealed that while there is less appetite for large physical expansions , such as new plants or greenfield projects (those developed entirely from scratch), there is a clear willingness to invest in digital transformation, innovation, automation, and artificial intelligence , with the aim of gaining operational resilience.
Tariff policies and the review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) are emerging as key factors in strategic planning. Senior management acknowledges that changes in rules of origin and international trade have increased costs and created logistical challenges , leading companies to seek greater operational efficiency to absorb these impacts without fully passing them on to prices.
From the regulatory perspective, Susana Galán , Transfer Pricing partner at KPMG Mexico, emphasized that oversight remains active: 49% of companies have faced formal review processes , while the administrative burden and complexity of tax compliance are consolidating as the main “headaches” for senior management.
“Tax enforcement today begins long before an on-site audit. It starts with data analysis, CFDI (Digital Tax Receipts via the Internet) , electronic accounting, and foreign trade,” explained Galán, noting that 64% of executives already use technology to automate tax processes , although a lag persists that represents risks of non-compliance.
Talent, artificial intelligence, and emotional salary
Human talent management remains a strategic priority. Nearly 70% of companies plan to modify their workforce , reducing automatable positions and strengthening strategic areas such as sales, customer service, and high-value operations.
The study confirmed that artificial intelligence (AI) will not replace human talent , but rather those who fail to prepare to integrate it. In this context, emotional salary, work flexibility, career development plans, and technological training are gaining importance compared to traditional compensation schemes.
For his part, Gerardo Rojas , lead partner of Advisory at KPMG Mexico, highlighted that companies are leaving behind reactive innovation to survive and are moving towards strategies aimed at improving the customer experience, generating new revenue and developing business solutions .
Between 2% and 5% of revenue is the range of investment in innovation that senior management considers appropriate, with an emphasis on cloud, data analytics and AI , both for internal efficiencies and to strengthen customer relationships.
Risk management is evolving towards a more holistic approach, encompassing intangible risks such as loss of relevance, changes in consumer habits, and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors. Currently, 71% of companies already incorporate ESG criteria into their risk management , a trend that is expected to continue rising in light of future reporting obligations and increased scrutiny.
“The greatest risk may be complacency,” Rojas warned, emphasizing the importance of updating risk plans and conducting materiality analyses appropriate to the sector and size of each organization.
Mexico, resilient in the face of disruption
Despite global volatility, the study concluded that Mexico maintains key attributes for attracting investment: geographic location, competitive workforce, and economic openness. Meanwhile, the review of the USMCA could become a catalyst for strengthening regional value chains , once the rules of the game are defined.
In short, top management in Mexico faces 2026 with prudence, but also with a clear conviction: investing in innovation, talent and resilience is essential to grow in an environment of constant disruption .
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