A few days ago, I spent two days in the Mexican edition of Congreso América Digital, in Mexico City. It was my first time, and I enjoyed my time there, learned a lot, met interesting people, and also found some time to reflect on the current stage of the ICT industry in Latin America.
First, the exhibition was living proof that, as Marc Andreessen wrote some ten years ago, “software is eating the world”. Starting with the main sponsor, AnyDesk, but also with most of the companies with a booth: companies from a diverse range of niches like fintech, collaboration, security, and more, all of them from the software side of the business.
Of course, also a large presence of “partners”, showing the relevance of this type of company as part of the go-to-market strategy, in particular in Latin America.
A few companies like Cloudflare, Cirion, and Hughes, illustrated how critical the Internet continues to be. While sometimes we forget about that, and we focus on the over-the-top applications, the underlying infrastructure remains vital.
The presence of companies like the above-mentioned AnyDesk, TeamViewer, and Monday.com, offering solutions for remote work, collaboration, or the like was also significant, as a reminder that such a trend is here to stay.
Needless to say, a handful of security providers, both established like Fortinet or Base4 and new like Sangfor (at least in Mexico), were the confirmation that businesses cannot operate without the proper security measures.
And now, the elephant in the room. The booths at least did not acknowledge the new technology that is taking the world by storm: artificial intelligence (AI). Yes, the term AI was whispered in conversations around the halls, and the presentations of many keynote speakers. But so far, if this event is a good sample, actual implementation is yet to take place.
Conclusion
In summary, my experience at the Mexican edition of Congreso América Digital was both enlightening and thought-provoking. It underscored the critical role of internet infrastructure and highlighted the enduring importance of cybersecurity in today’s digital landscape. As we navigate the evolving ICT industry in Latin America, integrating AI into business strategies remains a compelling frontier for future exploration and innovation.
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