Beyond Tariffs and Tools: The Critical Impact of Specialized IT

Global trade debates often revolve around the movement of products, the pressure of tariffs, and the logistics of supply chains. These elements undeniably matter, but they tell only part of the story. In an economy where digital readiness defines competitiveness, it is specialized IT services — those that operate behind the scenes — that determine whether industries can truly thrive. Hardware can be imported, tariffs can be negotiated, but without reliable digital services, growth remains superficial. 

The global market has already recognized this shift. IT services represented more than US$1.5 trillion in 2024 and are expected to reach US$2.6 trillion by 2030, outpacing many traditional sectors. Even in uncertain macroeconomic environments, spending on cloud integration, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and managed services continues to rise. These are no longer support functions, they are the infrastructure of modern competitiveness. Nations that invest in such services are not just more efficient, they are more resilient, more attractive to investors, and better prepared for the disruptions that define this century. 

Mexico is now at the heart of this conversation. Nearshoring has brought a historic opportunity, positioning the country as a preferred hub for manufacturing and logistics in North America. Yet, the promise of nearshoring will not be fulfilled by geography alone. The difference between a temporary trend and a lasting transformation lies in the ability to deliver advanced digital services that make production reliable, secure, and globally integrated. Mexico’s IT services sector already generates more than US$25 billion annually, and forecasts suggest it could surpass US$35 billion by 2030. The broader ICT market, valued at US$64.6 billion in 2024, is on track to more than double within the next decade. This growth is fueled by the expansion of data centers, adoption of cloud platforms, and demand from sectors like finance, health, and advanced manufacturing. But the gap remains visible: Connectivity and digital skills are uneven across regions, and many SMEs still lack the tools to integrate into international value chains. 

This is precisely where specialized IT services become transformative. Cybersecurity frameworks provide the trust that global investors demand. Cloud and managed services give small and medium enterprises the ability to scale and join supply chains that once seemed inaccessible. Artificial intelligence, digital twins, and data analytics allow manufacturing plants to operate with levels of precision and efficiency that attract high-value investment. These services ensure that Mexico’s competitiveness is not defined solely by low labor costs or proximity to the United States, but by its capacity to deliver reliable, innovative, and secure digital operations. 

What enables these services to flourish is not the effort of one company or one sector alone. It requires an ecosystem where industry, government, and academia align around shared priorities: training talent, setting standards, promoting inclusion, and building trust. This is the role AMITI plays, not as a seller of services, but as a convener and voice of the sector. With almost four decades of experience and more than 150 companies represented, AMITI helps articulate the strategic agenda: reducing the talent gap through partnerships with universities and microcredentials; fostering cybersecurity frameworks that protect organizations and citizens alike; promoting adoption of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies under ethical guidelines; integrating SMEs into digital ecosystems; and ensuring diversity and inclusion are recognized as drivers of innovation rather than as side notes. These are not isolated projects; they are building blocks of a digital economy that sustains itself. 

The broader message is that Mexico cannot afford to treat IT services as secondary to physical products. The country’s economic trajectory, especially in the context of nearshoring, will depend on whether it can scale and democratize access to these specialized services. The task ahead is clear: train more professionals, close the digital divide, design regulatory frameworks that recognize services as critical to trade, and create conditions where small and large enterprises alike can thrive in a digital ecosystem. 

In a world still caught up in tariffs and trade disputes, it may seem easier to focus on what can be measured in containers and customs duties. But the real measure of competitiveness is increasingly intangible: trust, resilience, and digital sophistication. Mexico has the chance to lead, not just by being close to global markets, but by being ready for them. Specialized IT services are the cornerstone of that readiness, and nurturing this ecosystem is one of the most strategic investments the country can make for its future.