Human talent: the hidden engine driving AI in colombia
Can Colombia Lead the AI Revolution in Latin America?
As businesses embrace AI, the real challenge lies in preparing the talent of the future.
By: Leticia Chajchir, People Director, Endava.
In Colombia, the advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly seen as a strategic driver across diverse economic sectors. Today, companies in the country are moving from using AI as a tactical tool to fully integrating it into their operations, vision, and organizational culture.
This paradigm shift not only redefines internal processes but also introduces new demands in terms of talent, structure, and vision—driving a profound evolutionary leap in how organizations conceive and deliver their value proposition.
Growing AI Adoption
According to Microsoft, by 2025, 66% of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Colombia will be using AI to boost productivity, ensure business continuity, and enhance customer service—a figure that rises to 86% among digital-native companies.
Meanwhile, data from Mercer reveals that 46% of organizations are applying AI in data analytics, 43% in strategic decision-making, and 40% in product or service innovation.
In this context, initiatives are emerging that seek to stay ahead of the digital curve.
Some organizations, such as Endava, are actively redesigning their internal capabilities—developing proprietary accelerators, automating key processes, integrating intelligent copilots, and forming strategic alliances with global ecosystem leaders like OpenAI in 2024.
This move positions Endava as a regional pioneer in establishing this strategic partnership, with the goal of driving smart solutions that enhance both operational efficiency and the experience of customers and teams.
Transformation Beyond Processes
However, AI implementation goes beyond process automation—it is transforming how work is done, how decisions are made, and how value is created.
This shift brings new challenges related to talent, organizational structure, and culture.
Despite growing adoption, Colombia faces significant structural hurdles. Microsoft reports that nearly 40% of companies struggle to find AI-specialized talent, and only 22% are investing with a focus on innovation.
Furthermore, the latest report from the ICT sector indicates that Colombia currently needs over 112,000 professionals in tech-related fields to meet market demand.
In the workplace, Microsoft and LinkedIn’s Work Trend Index 2024 reveals that around 81% of employees are already using AI in their daily tasks, and 57% of executives say they would not hire someone without basic AI knowledge.
Training for the Future
In response to this reality, initiatives that link education with early hands-on experience are gaining ground. Equipping talent with the right skills is essential to close the gap between the pace of AI evolution and the preparedness of the labor market.
In Europe, we are advancing Dava X Academy, a program in which more than 300 individuals are being trained this year. The goal is not only to prepare participants to join the industry, but also to empower them to help transform it.
In Colombia specifically, Endava has launched an Internship Programme that offers young people an immersive AI experience—embedding them in environments where AI is already part of everyday work.
It is a tangible way to prepare the next generation of professionals to lead the transformation that is already underway.
Since 2018, more than 330 young Colombians from cities such as Bogotá, Cali, and Medellín have participated in the program, with 205 being hired by the organization.
These kinds of initiatives not only benefit the companies that promote them—they also have a broader impact, positively influencing the regional innovation ecosystem.
In markets like Latin America, strengthening the pool of digital talent is essential to enhance competitiveness and support sustainable development.
Investing in the integration of AI alongside professional growth is a decision that connects the present with the future.
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