Only 23% of LATAM Firms Gain Real Value from AI; Open ERPs May Close the Gap

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Despite rapid growth in AI investment across Latin America — with the regional market projected to reach USD 40.5 billion in 2026 — only 23% of organizations generate measurable economic value from generative AI, and six in ten SMEs report no returns at all, according to a World Economic Forum and McKinsey report. Analysts attribute this 'value gap' primarily to poor integration, with AI tools deployed in isolation rather than embedded in core business systems. The argument is that embedding AI directly into an ERP — which already centralises accounting, sales, inventory, and purchasing data — addresses the root causes of low returns. Odoo's version 19, launched in September 2025, took this approach by integrating AI agents into core modules such as CRM, Accounting, and HR, using a human-review model to maintain oversight. For Mexican SMEs, where open-source software adoption is notably high at around 65%, open ERP platforms are positioned as a practical path from AI experimentation to measurable business outcomes.

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