Study: Colombian Companies Have a Long Way To Go When It Comes to Digital Transformation

Colombian companies continue to lag when it comes to digital transformation, according to a recent study by the Center for Research and Development in Information and Communications Technologies (CINTEL).

While the organization found that the average “Digital Transformation Maturity Index” of companies in Colombia sits at 51.5% for 2023, just 7% of companies in the Andean nation currently have an advanced digital transformation strategy in place — and more than two-thirds of these firms are only two years, or less, into their journey.

Another 55% of companies in the Andean nation are in the process of planning their digital transformation strategy, according to the latest results of an annual survey that has been conducted by the Bogotá-based organization since 2016.

In all, CINTEL surveyed technology leaders of 431 companies from the different economic sectors and the industries with the highest digital transformation maturity level being seen in food products (57.0%), construction (55.8%), machinery and related (55.8%), hydrocarbons (55.2%), trade (53%), and communications and information technology (50.5%).

“The Digital Transformation Maturity Index,” noted CINTEL Technical Director Mario Castaño González, “is measured through indirect indicators defined based on expert judgment and CINTEL’s experience…in accordance with the defined scope for the digital transformation of organizations, the objectives to achieve operational efficiency, value generation or talent development, and digital culture.” He added that the study also factors in how well companies enable aspects and the use of technology as an accelerator of these processes.

González unveiled the results last month during a public forum in Bogotá that included and Gabriel Jurado and Sindey Carolina Bernal, deputy ministers of the Colombian Ministry of ICT. Others who participated included Carlos Esteban Lemoine, leader of the digital appropriation and transformation studies of the National Consulting Center; Santiago Pinzón, vice president of Digital Transformation at ANDI; Andrea Ramírez, director of methodology and statistical production of DANE;