Over 300,000 Online as Tech Leaders Urge Belizean Businesses to Tap In

Belize is stepping into the digital age, but how ready are we for the rapid changes ahead? From artificial intelligence to cybersecurity, experts say we’re at a pivotal moment. At the recent Digital Leadership Conference, industry leaders shared why embracing technology, particularly AI, and investing in skills training could be the game-changer that propels us forward. Otherwise, we risk being left behind. News Five’s Paul Lopez tells us more.

 

Paul Lopez, Reporting

We’re living in a digital world, and Belize is very much a part of that global shift. A recent study reveals something pretty eye-opening: out of the four hundred and twenty-four thousand people living in Belize, three hundred and forty-nine thousand own a cellphone, and just over three hundred thousand are online. That’s a huge chunk of the population plugged into the digital space. And for local businesses looking to grow their online presence, this data is a roadmap. That was the big takeaway at the Digital Leadership Conference Belize, where tech experts and entrepreneurs explored how to tap into this digital momentum.

 

Dr. Dionne Chamberlain, Managing Director, Chamberlain Consulting Limited

“We know that Belize is at a critical juncture in getting its digital space created and moving in several critical areas, AI, cybersecurity, upskilling our people. Because like I mention earlier, AI will take over seventy-million jobs by the end of 2026, however it is going to create over three hundred million jobs by the end of 2026. Which means that there is a net gain of ninety million jobs. So it means that we have to change what we are doing.”

 

One of the hot topics at the digital conference is how businesses in Belize are adapting to artificial intelligence. Maynor Larrieu, Managing Director at Avant Garde, a local digital marketing agency, says we’re still in the early stages of AI adoption. But the gap is widening fast, and if we don’t catch up soon, Belize could find itself falling behind in the global tech race.

 

Maynor Larrieu, Managing Director, Avant Garde

“We are and the gap is getting bigger, because AI is moving faster and we are not exposed. I will give you an example, last year in April my agency had the first AI conference and since then we have seen a couple of others, which is good. But, look at that same framework in another country you will see that they are having these conferences monthly for each industry.”

One of the biggest concerns surrounding AI is the fear that it could replace human jobs, especially among the working class, and lead to a spike in unemployment. It’s a worry that’s front and center as Belize begins to explore the possibilities of artificial intelligence. This is referred to as AI disruption, and it is a real concern.  Christian Junior, the Chief Executive Officer at IT Management Consultancy Firm, Rhics UK, agrees and emphasizes the need for upskilling.

 

Christian Junior, Chief Executive Officer, Rhics UK

“If you look at some industries AI is already causing disruption. I wont mention any names, but I know of one business, a BPO business that had a healthcare campaign, their clients implemented an AI tool and they cut their staff from fifty to about two people, because AI now does most of the work and they escalate what AI cannot do to a human agent. That emphasize the human loop of AI, where AI can do a lot of things but you still need a human to come in.”

 

And nowhere is this digital shift more visible than in the Business Process Outsourcing sector which employs over twenty thousand Belizeans. It’s a space where the impact of AI is already being felt, and the changes are just beginning. A recent study reveals that seventy-eight percent of tier one jobs in the sector, such as customer service and basic telephone communications, face a high AI disruption risk. The data points to an urgent need for upskilling, but the research finds that the challenge begins in the education system where children receive no formal information and communication technology training until age twelve. In many developed countries, kids are getting a head start in tech, with formal ICT education beginning as early as age four to six. It’s a sign of just how seriously these nations are taking digital literacy from the ground up.

 

Christian Junior

“If you train your people effectively you will not be scared of AI, rather you will open your arms to it, you will adapt to it and use it to scale whatever you are doing.”

And, while AI disruption is a real concern, artificial intelligence also poses significant benefits for small businesses operating on a tight budget. The Managing Director at Socias Limited, Sonia Ceballos, says AI helps small businesses to optimize repetitive tasks so that they can invest their limited resources elsewhere.

 

Sonia Ceballos, Managing Director, Socias Limited

“And in MSMEs this is very important because you don’t have the money to higher ten or twenty people, because you can optimize a lot of these tasks by putting AI to do it and then you can do other activities. I always say that for big companies you have different departments. In MSMEs it is you and AI. That is where AI compliments.”

The key message coming out of the conference is clear, artificial intelligence isn’t a passing trend, it’s here to stay. And for businesses and workers alike, adapting to this new reality is no longer optional. Those who don’t risk being left behind in a rapidly evolving digital world. Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez .