Businesses across Colombia, Spain, Bolivia, and Guatemala are accelerating digital transformation to improve innovation and operational competitiveness [1].
These efforts reflect a critical global shift as companies attempt to bridge skill gaps and enhance customer experiences. However, the transition remains difficult for many organizations, as the adoption of new tools does not always result in a successful structural overhaul.
In Colombia, the insurance group SURA and Microsoft have formed a partnership to lead digital transformation using artificial intelligence [2]. The alliance aims to improve operational efficiency and the overall experience for customers [2]. This push for modernization comes amid data suggesting a significant gap between technology acquisition and actual transformation. According to one report, only 28% of companies succeed in converting technology into a true digital transformation [3].
Similar initiatives are appearing in Europe. In the province of Cáceres, Spain, six companies recently completed the AMPLIA digitalization program [4]. This localized effort focuses on integrating digital tools into business workflows to remain competitive in a shifting market [4].
Central America is also seeing a surge in digital commerce integration. In Guatemala, the Digital Commerce Day 2026 is expected to draw more than 1,200 leaders, entrepreneurs, and experts [5]. The event serves as a hub for those looking to advance the future of e-commerce within the country [5].
Beyond individual corporate partnerships, broader institutional efforts are emerging to quantify these shifts. In Bolivia, the IME Digital Empowerment Index was launched to measure digital competencies and identify existing gaps in the digital era [6]. This indicates a move toward systemic measurement of how well a workforce can utilize new technologies [6].
Experts said that digital transformation requires more than software updates. Improving and updating human skills is considered essential for these technologies to provide a real competitive advantage [7].
“Only 28% of companies succeed in converting technology into a true digital transformation.”
The disparity between technology adoption and successful transformation suggests that the 'digital divide' is no longer just about access to hardware, but about the institutional capacity to integrate that hardware into business logic. While high-profile partnerships like SURA and Microsoft signal a trend toward AI integration, the low success rate of conversion indicates that human capital and skill updates are the primary bottlenecks to economic competitiveness in the digital age.
