Advanced industrial technologies, such as the Internet of Things and data analytics, enable cost reduction and strengthen financial decision-making. IMEF itself has highlighted that digitalization is a driver of economic resilience, and that SMEs that adopt digital tools show improvements in competitiveness and efficiency in the face of market changes. For the Corporate Finance and Treasury Committee, the challenge lies in ensuring robust data governance, evaluating the return on technology investment, generating funding strategies, and developing internal capabilities that allow for the absorption of transformation without impairing operations. Even more concerning is that only 1% of companies have achieved full integration of artificial intelligence into their processes, demonstrating that our country is still far from incorporating and exploiting the value of these technologies. The scenario becomes more complex because technology has ceased to be an isolated project to become a permanent piece of the organizational culture.
Vice President of the National Technical Committee on Corporate Finance and Treasury IMEF. The fourth industrial revolution has reached all companies and has become a fundamental element of competitiveness. To this is added that sources of financing remain limited: in the first quarter of 2025, 62% of companies depended on suppliers as their main source of financing, and only 27% used commercial bank credit, while development banking represented only 1%, an insufficient figure to drive modernization. To this financial challenge is added the cultural issue. The Secretariat of Economy has pointed out that moving towards Industry 4.0 requires four pillars: human capital development, innovation, technological adoption, and financing. IMEF has warned that innovation must be balanced with criteria of security, sustainability, and information protection, aspects that become critical in an environment where digitalization exposes companies to greater technological and regulatory risks.
In conclusion, Industry 4.0 is not just a technological leap, but a redefinition of the financial and operational model of Mexican companies. The lack of information, training, and leadership are frequent causes of resistance, which leads to a loss of productivity and difficulties in implementing new technologies. Despite these obstacles, Industry 4.0 represents a national opportunity to increase productivity and optimize resources. Without these elements, the country's competitiveness faces structural risks. One of the main challenges is the gap between large companies and SMEs. Only in this way will organizations be able to compete in an environment where transformation is no longer optional, but constant and exponential. In Mexico, its progress is marked by contrasts that force companies, especially financial areas, to rethink their operational model. Companies must coexist with transformation, which implies adaptability, investment, and a disciplined exercise of financial planning. To close the existing gap, it will be essential to apply discipline, strategically manage change, and prioritize initiatives with a direct impact on productivity, liquidity, and sustainability. The majority of SMEs continue to operate manually due to the high costs associated with technology and their limited access to financing. Resistance to change is a significant brake, particularly in companies where manual processes predominate and there is a fear of labor substitution. The 2025 Digital Maturity Report by EY confirms that Mexican organizations barely reach 42% digital maturity, a clearly insufficient level compared to the ideal of 70%. It is estimated that more than four million SMEs represent over 52% of GDP and generate 72% of employment, but many lack the resources for technological solutions.
