Mexico Lags in Digital Maturity, Hindering AI Adoption

Over 41% of Mexican companies have achieved significant digital maturity, reveals a joint report by EY Mexico, Needed Education, KIO Networks, and American Chamber Mexico. This indicator positions the country below the 70% considered optimal for effective technological integration. The absence of a clear vision for digital transformation hinders the full adoption of emerging technologies, including AI.

“Last year, it was estimated that digital maturity in Mexico should be higher, but we are below 40%,” says Jose Luis Guasco, Consulting Leader, EY Global Delivery Services Mexico (GDS Mexico). 

The Digital Maturity 2025 report, developed from thirty interviews with Mexican CEOs and complemented by 330 surveys directed to C-level leaders, underscores that Mexican industry presents a notable lag in its digital transformation process. The report also highlights a fundamental concern regarding the competitive capacity of the Mexican business sector in a globalized environment demanding technological agility. 

The digital lag in Mexico extends beyond the mere absence of technology infrastructure. Guasco tells DPL News that a combination of organizational and cultural factors limit technology adoption among companies. For example, a significant percentage of companies did not originate as digital entities, which complicates their adaptation to new operational paradigms. Additionally, internal resistance to change manifests due to the perception of a lack of qualified talent and the conceptualization of digital transformation as a costly and complex process. AI, in particular, is frequently viewed as a series of isolated projects instead of an integral component of a holistic business strategy.

The study adds that a large part of Mexican companies are still in an incipient phase of data collection, leading to the accumulation of vast volumes of information without an effective translation into strategic decisions or structural modifications. “The absence of a clear strategy for data centralization has generated disparate digitalization among the different business units,” says Guasco.

Areas such as e-commerce and marketing have achieved significant progress, while departments like human resources and finance exhibit considerable lag, reads the report. The study projects a significant increase in global investment in AI, estimating a doubling toward 2028 to reach US$632 billion. The adoption of this technology is crucial; however, it is not limited to the acquisition of advanced solutions, but rather involves the preparation of human capital for its efficient utilization. Demand is high for professionals with specialized knowledge in areas such as cybersecurity, supply chain, digital risks, and internal auditing, reports EY GDS.

Evangelina Avendaño, Managing Director, EY GDS Mexico, emphasizes the need to strengthen the technology talent ecosystem to drive digital maturity. The ability to interpret and capitalize on the data generated by companies is fundamental to converting it into innovative solutions that provide value. This talent, reads the report, is indispensable for the development of tools in cybersecurity, data analytics, AI, and automation, essential elements to improve productivity.