en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Competitiveness Center of Monterrey (Centro de Competitividad de Monterrey, CCM) and the Nuevo León Ministry of Economy (Secretaría de Economía), through the SME Digitalization Program, have trained 150 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to enhance the competitiveness of local suppliers and facilitate their connection with large industrial procurement companies. This initiative is based on an industry diagnosis, which identified the main challenge as the lack of a professional digital presence among companies, making it difficult for them to be discovered by potential industrial clients.
With the graduation of the final batch of 30 companies, this initiative, jointly launched by the CCM (affiliated with the Chamber of the Transformation Industry of Nuevo León (Cámara de la Industria de la Transformación de Nuevo León, CAINTRA)) and the state government, has achieved its coverage target. The strategy aims to address a structural lag in Mexico: only 12% of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MiPymes) have undergone digital transformation, a figure that places Mexico below the global average and limits the integration of local suppliers into global supply chains.
According to CAINTRA's analysis, the lack of basic digital channels, such as professional websites or structured product catalogs, excludes small workshops and factories from the screening processes of large buyers. Due to the absence of a strong digital presence, companies miss significant business opportunities in the context of the investment relocation (relocalización de inversiones) currently experienced by the state. To bridge this gap, the program operates on a scholarship model, with 80% of the cost funded by the state government. During 31 hours of practical training (divided into nine modules), companies developed tools that can be quickly implemented, with a focus on: designing value propositions and competitive business materials; optimizing positioning strategies through website development, social media, and WhatsApp Business (WhatsApp para Negocios); and introducing artificial intelligence (Inteligencia Artificial, IA) and cybersecurity operational tools to protect their processes.
Unlike other academic models, the program's structure is designed to prioritize business matching and the development of commercial opportunities. Participants across the three phases of the program not only received completion certificates but also underwent a process of direct engagement with industrial buyers, thereby strengthening the integration of participating companies into regional production activities. This production coordination effort began with a pilot group of 25 participants, coordinated by Cristóbal Cárdenas of the Technology Development Directorate (Dirección de Desarrollo Tecnológico), and supported by several leaders in the industrial ecosystem. With these 150 companies now equipped with capabilities, the region is moving towards building a more connected, visible, and competitive supplier base to seize opportunities in the international market.
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