In Monterrey, an important industrial center in Mexico, the integration of robots still faces obstacles, according to Diana Chávez, Head of Business Development at Servibot, a Mexican company specialized in this technology.
Chávez mentioned that, unlike Mexico City and Guadalajara, where the adoption of robots has advanced rapidly, in Monterrey, the capital of Nuevo León, the process has been slower. Despite being a key market with a high level of industrialization, the demand for robots in Monterrey has lagged behind compared to other regions of the country.
Cities like Mexicali, Chihuahua, and Tijuana have integrated more robots in the industrial sector, especially in material transport and companies with continuous operations, which has allowed for the optimization of processes and reduction of operational costs. Although Monterrey has a manufacturing ecosystem conducive to following the same trend, there is still resistance to change.
The HORECA sector (Hotels, Restaurants, and Cafés) has been the one that has incorporated the most robots in Monterrey so far. Companies like ServiBot plan to strengthen their presence in the city with a showroom to demonstrate the potential of their robots in various industries. Despite the growing adoption in the hospitality and food sector, growth in the manufacturing sector has been more moderate.
As companies seek to reduce costs and improve efficiency, it is expected that the integration of robots in logistics and cleaning will accelerate in the coming years. Robots have prices ranging from $8,500 to $16,500, and their average return on investment is one year, depending on the type of business and the use of the robot.
In sectors of high operational demand, such as manufacturing and restaurants, robots have proven to reduce labor costs and optimize operation times, without affecting hiring. In some successful cases, a single robot has been able to deliver up to 40 percent of the dishes in a restaurant with five waiters, improving the customer experience.
Despite the challenges, automation in Monterrey is inevitable. The integration of robots in different industries will continue to evolve in the city as companies seek to improve their operational efficiency and competitiveness in the market.
