MB Launches Mexico AI, Cloud, and Data Summit 2023

Mexico AI, Cloud, and Data Summit gathered industry leaders and key decision-makers in Mexico City to discuss the most relevant challenges to digitalization. Topics included the integration of emerging technologies, modernization of digital infrastructure, and the advancement of data analysis. Panelists underscored the benefits of data analysis in enhancing decision-making and highlighted the imminent roles artificial intelligence and data centers will play in driving continued innovation. 

The summit was inaugurated with a discussion on the importance of data cleanup and integration to ensure the generation of valuable insights for informed decision-making. Whether for advanced or predictive analytics, panelists emphasized data quality’s importance as a fundamental component to an effective data strategy. For Ana Coronel, Data Science Vice President, BanBajío, comprehensive data governance, from inception to exploitation, is a vital element for data strategy formation. Moreover, Salvador Hernández, CDO, Frisa Forjados, said human supervision will continue to be an integral part of data analysis, highlighting that no process should be left entirely to automated models.

Rackspace Solutions Architect, Aáron Castellanos, outlined the benefits of AI-powered tools in enhancing data management strategies. According to Castellanos, “the immense amount of data available can significantly enhance the results, predictions, and insights provided by artificial intelligence, which can lead to better decision-making within organizations.” Nevertheless, he warned about the potential risks from the misuse of AI models, urging businesses to apply a responsible, fair approach that puts users’ security at the center of their objectives before its integration. 

Experts from Mabe, Knowsy AI, Nutanix and Lenovo discussed the distinctive benefits Data Lakes and Cloud Warehouses offer companies looking to store, govern, and analyze extensive datasets. Diego Sánchez, Business Director, Mabe, explained, "data lakes serve as a comprehensive repository intended for later analysis and need the expertise of a dedicated team to process and extract value for the organization.” In contrast, data warehouses are ideal for pre-structured and processed data, making it readily available for immediate utilization, he added. However, Itzul Girón, Founder and CEO, Knowsy AI, warned that meticulous data curation is essential to ensure that the data analysis conducted by AI aligns with the business's strategic objectives. Failing to do so could lead to flawed business insights and decisions, with significant implications to business viability. 

Other experts addressed the issues related to data center resilience, such as budget limitations, geographical constraints, and tech talent scarcity. Óscar García, CIO, SmartPlus, suggested distributing resources across multiple cloud platforms as a strategy for cost management. He also underscored the importance of having a contingency plan in the event of any unforeseen disruptions like power outages or natural disasters. Benjamin Aguillón, Board Consultant, MEXDC, argued that “choosing the right location for data centers is pivotal,” whose proximity can significantly reduce data transmission latency. Moreover, panelists agreed that the current shortage of skilled professionals has become a significant challenge for data center operations. 

In the context of advancing IoT analytics, industry experts considered the enhanced capabilities facilitated by edge-cloud integration for improved data transmission. According to Juan Carlos Montero, Partner and Head of Digital Technology Mexico, NTT Data, “the integration of edge and cloud technologies creates a powerful infrastructure, capable of bridging the gap between the explosive growth of IoT data and the need for real-time, data-driven insights.” This synergy minimizes the data transmission latency to the cloud, enabling real-time visibility of business operations. However, harmonizing pre-processed data streams into a unified algorithm, as needed for analysis models, constitutes a formidable challenge. 

The first day of MACDS 2023 closed with a presentation by Itzul Girón, Founder and CEO, Knowsy AI, who meticulously assessed the digital maturity of business in Mexico. Girón diligently examined the trends that are expected to influence and propel the country's digital economy in the short run. The presented data outlined the state of Mexico’s digital landscape, including statistics of digital banking preferences, online shopping tendencies, and average screen time, among others. 

To harness this extensive data resource, Girón introduced the Identification Inter-Platform Standard proposal. Made in collaboration between the Mexican Internet Association and Knowsy AI, the initiative aims at facilitating corporations’ access to essential user data for the expedited development of tailored products and services.

The second day of Mexico AI, Cloud, and Data Summit 2023 kicked off by exploring the potential of technology-driven data mining strategies. IT experts from Danone, Kubo Financiero, Círculo de Crédito, and Banco Azteca agreed that inconsistent information for data analysis can often lead to flawed conclusions and, consequently, poor business decisions. In fact, Rodrigo Murillo, CDO, Círculo de Crédito, argued that "without quality data, deriving valuable insights for capitalization becomes exceedingly challenging for businesses.” 

Beyond this initial challenge, data mining initiatives are also contingent on their effective communication and integration into decision-making processes. This is especially important considering that top executives tend to prioritize results and return on investment, rather than data perfection, Murillo added.

The following presentation by Ricardo Álvarez, National Manager, Grupo Coppel, focused on how companies are increasingly recurring to emerging technologies as a way to drive operational efficiency, increase productivity, and enhance customer experience. To illustrate its position, Álvarez highlighted that Coppel is currently implementing machine learning models and chatbots, which have proven effective in enhancing customer interactions. At the center of the company’s transformation, however, is its transition from a primarily application-centric model to one that prioritizes data science, explained Álvarez. In this process, he acknowledged interoperability issues, privacy concerns, high implementation costs, and compliance challenges.

Fabián Monge, Country Manager, Ericsson Mexico, addressed the daunting task of ensuring compatibility with 5G, a network that demands substantial investments in scalable and flexible infrastructure. During the presentation, Monge explored the anticipated impact and challenges of 5G technology integration in different industries. In Monge’s opinion, “as the adoption of IoT devices continues to surge, the indispensability of 5G technology becomes increasingly evident.” This will demand frictionless connectivity to ensure the sustained interoperability of IoT operations systems. 

Industry experts Facundo Chambó, Rafael Verduzco, Felipe Mundaca and Juan Arturo Dueñas addressed the benefits of adopting open-source technology to ensure the seamless integration between technology, software, and systems. According to Facundo Chambó, CTO, Homie, open source offers a range of compelling advantages, such as standardization, flexibility, and expansion. Beyond these benefits, Rafael Verduzco, CTO of Zendala, said open-source offers startups the means to enter the tech arena without bearing the substantial financial burdens often associated with proprietary solutions. Felipe Mundaca, CTO, Rankmi, asserted that "embracing open-source solutions fosters an innovative workplace culture, empowering organizations to remain agile and competitive amidst dynamic business landscapes."

The Mexico AI, Cloud, and Data Summit 2023 concluded with a panel on best practices to ensure the effective integration of AI into business. By leveraging this technology, organizations can effectively streamline internal processes, automate repetitive tasks, and optimize resource utilization. However, "to ensure the successful integration of AI, companies must know with absolute certainty the state in which the company’s digital architecture is in before even beginning to plan to integrate enhancing tools,” warned Diego Halffter, Chief Data and Analytics Officer, Justo. Pablo Guzzi, Chief Data and Analytics Officer, Ualá, agreed, emphasizing that maintaining a simple, yet clear approach to the case of use and business objectives for AI-powered tools ensures its effective implementation.