Tecnología 4. 0 como Herramienta para la Facilitación de la Certificación OEA en el Sector Exportador Ecuatoriano

Currently, the limited adoption of the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) program among Ecuadorian exporting companies presents a competitive disadvantage in international markets, despite the country’s export potential and the benefits this certification offers in terms of security, logistical efficiency, and international competitiveness. The objective of this research is to propose technological strategies for the implementation of the AEO certification in Ecuadorian exporting companies in order to strengthen their competitiveness in global markets. The study applied both theoretical and empirical methods to comprehensively analyze the certification at national and international levels. Additionally, an interview was conducted with a certified company to identify challenges, benefits, and best practices of the certification process, as well as to verify its impact on export performance. The results show that the use of Industry 4.0 technologies is key to meeting the program's standards by improving traceability, security, and logistical efficiency. It is concluded that the adoption of technologies in all operational areas, along with investment and business training strategies, is essential to increasing the participation of Ecuadorian companies in the AEO program