Almost all of them have a northern accent, either from Sinaloa or Baja California. There are also people from Monterrey. They are far from being new to the planet but they depend on the new economy. Mexico also depends on them, to a certain extent.
Dozens of them gathered this week on the Camino Real de Santa Fe, in CDMX.
Everyone owns a company based on serving companies through security services. software. Over there, the one who sells to restaurants so that the orders result in hot food on the tables and in reliable accounts for picky eaters. Another serves hospitals and charges per room, here another who is in charge of managing the entire process of any property: from the permits and the land, to its maintenance so that the tenants are happy.
You have to see the prominence of women. ‘Luzma’ Méndez speaks with aplomb about his SIAC application, which inevitably conveys a feeling of tranquility, as if by using it you will sleep better knowing that you know everything about your tax situation. Even the risks.
They make up the National Chamber of the Software Industry (CANISOFT), which until last week had remained a closed club, known only by its members who are around 50 years of age, on average.
As? Aren’t they the millennials and the centennials the owners of the national technological future?
Being among these characters allows us to see a real world and not the “innovation theater,” as Cristian Granados, professor at EGADE, co-author of the new book “Do More with Less,” calls it.
There are exceptions, undoubtedly, but the visible environment of Mexican technology seems dominated by wealthy and fortunate young people who, pushed by their families and their university, spend their time creating startups that hardly come to fruition, meanwhile, they focus on the task of convincing managers of private equity funds to pay them money for their ‘innovative app’.
It is different with the members of CANISOFT chaired by Julián Gaxiola, they reflect the authenticity of the Mexican situation. For example, they focus on serving truck drivers and maquiladoras who benefit from ‘nearshoring’.
Managers and owners of car, machine and electronic parts factories need applications that solve tax, customs, payroll administration, logistics and security problems, so that everything arrives on time.
That’s not sexy, but solving it is profitable. Sources from this chamber warn that the joint annual sales of its 30 members add up to about 3 billion pesos annually.
When I spoke with some of the members, a question arose: Why don’t we see cell phones or screens from Mexican brands, but we do see Mexican software?
They give logical reasons: Korea or the United States promote the existence of industries. Here these usually arise out of pure entrepreneurship.
In addition, the Texan company Oracle and others offer very good software, but when it comes to dealing with personnel administration, salary payment, the relationship with the IMSS, the SAT, the Infonavit, the banks that lend against payroll… also the insecurity , the lack of rule of law, wow, everything gets complicated. That’s where the Mexicans jump in.
One of them, who sells software specialized in continuous property maintenance management, says that the number and type of national standards for hotels and hospitals to comply with regulations currently prevent the abundant arrival of competitors.
How do they charge? Generally due to the use of licenses per user, which are around 500 pesos per month.
The members of this club are mostly individuals hardened by the emotional blows of a country that experiences its crises and prosperity. They know the value of teamwork and offer each other free products and good dumbbells.
They opened themselves to the public in this First Forum and Business Meeting of the Software Industry because they know that they need more members and more agreements. They understand that artificial intelligence brought threats and competition. Because, they say, united they are stronger.
Also, perhaps, because some of them want to pass the baton. Several heirs were presented. The future of a technological Mexico lies largely in them.
