Toward a Digital Society

Q: How can Global Hitss’ digital solutions and IT services help clients move toward digitalization?

A: Global Hitss has 30 years of experience and more than 8,000 employees in eight countries: the US, Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Chile and Argentina. As part of América Móvil, the largest telecommunications group in Latin America, our goal is to develop a modern and inclusive society that can provide solutions to citizens through technology. We do this by providing our clients with a digital strategy that fits their business model and helping with its implementation. 
By 2025, 70 percent of the economy will be controlled by millennials and members of the so-called Generation Z, a population group that consumes information very differently from previous generations. These changes are leading us to a collaborative and inclusive community, rather than to a closed and centralized one. Digitalization has created to two types of companies: digital natives and digital migrants, which are large old companies that are migrating toward a digital model. Global Hitss targets both types of companies; we want to bring our own solutions to digital natives and help migrants to evolve toward a digital society. 
Q: Which sector has better understood how to transition to a digital ecosystem?

A: We are focusing on eight industries that are moving toward a digital ecosystem: banking and finance, retail, health, smart cities, Industry 4.0, education, logistics and transport and energy. We have recognized that the industries that most easily incorporate digitalization are those that deal directly with the final consumer, such as finance, retail and healthcare. Our goal is to help these companies approach the end consumer and put them at the center of the company’s operations. 
Being part of America Móvil puts us in an excellent position to help clients undergo this digital transformation, so we see many opportunities in the market. Of our eight sectors, those which we expect to grow the most are financial, retail, healthcare, smart cities and education.

Q: What are the main challenges for companies transitioning toward a digital ecosystem?

A: The main challenge for an integral digital society is to reach digital maturity. There are a series of steps that countries must take before developing a digital society. The first is connectivity, followed by connected appliances, systems, solutions specifically designed for the needs of this society and sectorial integration, in that order. Each country is at a different stage and we are working on a case-by-case basis to introduce the necessary elements to develop this digital society. 
Mexico is in excellent condition compared to other countries in Latin America to embrace digitalization. Once I was asked whether it should be the private sector or the government that leads this change and I answered that it should be the individual consumer. Mexico and Brazil are doing very well and are investing a great deal in digital transformation, as are Chile, Argentina and Colombia.

Q: A common concern of digital companies is reluctance of Mexican SMEs to incorporate technology. What is your view?

A: Many SMEs have been reluctant to incorporate new technologies but they are increasingly willing to change because they have realized that their competitors are companies with disruptive business models. 
Digital transformation has three main axes: user experience, efficiency and new business models. If a company focuses only on the first two, it will not take the appropriate steps to develop the services required by its own clients. New business models were generated thanks to new technologies that did not exist when many traditional businesses were created. For that reason, these companies must understand these new business models.