Hannah Pilar Ambrocio Ortega
Maximiliano Felix
Pau San Roman
Hugo Sebastian Suarez Zenteno
Cristopher Rodríguez Serrano
Universidad Anáhuac Puebla
Miguel Hernández Lechuga
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SAN RO is a Mexican company dedicated to the production of plastic containers and affordable beauty products for the popular market. Through the use of technology and artificial intelligence in product design, the company optimizes its processes, reduces costs, and maintains accessible prices without replacing jobs. This innovation contributes to Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8) and Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12) by generating employment and reusing waste in its production process.
SAN RO’s main innovation consists of incorporating technological tools and artificial intelligence into the design process of its products and labels. This initiative was led by the company’s founder, Juan San Román Volquarts, together with the design and administrative teams, with the goal of optimizing creative processes and reducing the costs associated with product development. The implementation of these tools takes place in Puebla, Mexico, where the company operates, and emerged from the need to adapt to new technologies and remain competitive in an evolving business environment.
The use of artificial intelligence allows SAN RO to generate design proposals more quickly and efficiently, improving creativity while lowering development costs. Through these digital tools, the company can design product labels and presentations in a shorter period of time, which speeds up production and reduces the need for external design services. This innovation helps the company maintain competitive prices while still offering quality products, particularly for consumers in the popular sector who often have limited access to affordable personal care products.
At the same time, SAN RO made a conscious decision to use technology as a support tool rather than as a replacement for employees. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the company reinforced its commitment to protecting jobs and supporting workers’ well-being. By combining technology with human talent, the company has been able to increase productivity while maintaining a positive work environment. This approach contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8) and Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12), by promoting innovation, stable employment, and more efficient production processes.
The inspiration behind SAN RO’s innovation came from the desire to improve efficiency while continuing to offer quality products at accessible prices. According to Juan San Román Volquarts, the company recognized that many people in the popular sector do not always have access to personal care products at fair prices, which motivated the team to find new ways to optimize their processes without sacrificing quality. As he explained in the interview: “This innovation emerged mainly from the need to optimize processes and reduce costs, so we could offer quality products at accessible prices.”
Another important source of inspiration was the company’s commitment to its employees and the value it places on human work. Instead of using technology to replace workers, SAN RO decided to implement it as a support tool that helps employees work more efficiently. Reflecting on this decision, Juan San Román stated: “We decided that technology should support people’s work and make processes more efficient, but not replace them.”
Additionally, the experience of the COVID-19 pandemic strengthened the company’s values and its focus on protecting jobs. This period reminded leaders of the importance of maintaining stable employment and supporting the well-being of workers. As he mentioned: “During the pandemic we understood even more the importance of jobs and people’s well-being.” These motivations ultimately inspired SAN RO to adopt innovation in a responsible way, combining technology with human talent to create positive outcomes for the company, its employees, and its customers.
The innovation implemented by SAN RO integrating artificial intelligence and digital tools into the design of products and labels has generated important short-term and long-term impacts for the company, its employees, and its customers. This initiative was led by founder Juan San Román Volquarts together with the design and administrative teams at the company’s facilities in Puebla, Mexico. In the short term, the adoption of these technologies allowed the company to significantly improve the speed and efficiency of its design and development processes. According to the interview, the tools make it possible to create product designs faster, reduce dependence on external design services, and lower production costs. As a result, the company can respond more quickly to market demands while maintaining competitive prices.
Another immediate effect of this innovation has been the improvement of internal collaboration and communication among departments such as design, production, and administration. Employees now work with modern digital tools that support their tasks rather than replacing them. Evidence of this positive impact can be seen in the company’s continued growth and its ability to maintain strong relationships with large retail clients such as Walmart, Chedraui, Bodega Aurrera, and Waldos. The efficiency gained from using these tools helps the company meet the expectations and requirements of these large commercial partners.
In the long term, SAN RO expects this innovation to strengthen its competitiveness and support its vision of expanding internationally. By combining technology with human talent, the company aims to increase productivity, maintain stable employment, and continue offering affordable products to consumers. Additionally, the company’s practice of reusing production residues contributes to more responsible production processes, supporting long-term sustainability and aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals related to decent work and responsible consumption.
Because SAN RO implemented technological tools and artificial intelligence in the design of its products and labels, the company has been able to improve efficiency in its development and production processes. This innovation was promoted by founder Juan San Román Volquarts together with the company’s design and administrative teams in Puebla, Mexico. By using digital tools to generate designs more quickly, the company reduced development costs and optimized the time required to launch or update products. As a result, SAN RO has strengthened its relationships with major retail clients such as Walmart, Chedraui, Bodega Aurrera, and Waldos, which has helped maintain steady revenue and business growth.
Because the business adopted this technology as a support system rather than a replacement for workers, positive outcomes have also been seen within the organization. Employees have been able to work with modern tools that simplify tasks and improve productivity, which contributes to a healthier work environment and stronger employee engagement. The company has maintained stable employment and continues to provide job opportunities for approximately 60 workers, demonstrating a commitment to employee well-being and retention. This approach has also strengthened teamwork between departments such as design, production, and administration.
In the long term, these improvements create opportunities for further growth and expansion. By lowering operational costs and increasing efficiency, SAN RO is better positioned to expand into new markets and potentially attract new investment for more advanced machinery and increased production capacity. The company has also strengthened its ability to develop new product presentations and designs that respond to market demands. Because of these innovations, SAN RO is building a stronger and more competitive business while maintaining its mission of offering quality products at accessible prices.
Recognizing the potential of new digital technologies, the leadership team decided to integrate artificial intelligence and digital tools into the process of designing product labels and packaging. This change was gradually adopted within the organization as employees began exploring and learning how to use these tools to improve their daily work.
The innovation also improved coordination between departments such as design, production, and administration, making workflows more organized and efficient.
An important aspect of how this innovation was implemented is the company’s decision to use technology to support employees rather than replace them. SAN RO’s leadership believes that technology should enhance human talent and improve productivity without eliminating jobs. As a result, workers have been able to adopt modern digital tools while continuing to play an essential role in the company’s operations. This balanced approach has helped SAN RO strengthen its internal culture, improve efficiency, and continue providing quality products to its clients and consumers.
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SAN RO is a Mexican company located in Puebla dedicated to the production and sale of plastic containers and beauty products, such as creams, oils, and cosmetics. It has more than 15 years of experience in the market and operates as a medium-sized company with around 60 employees. Its products are distributed in retail chains such as Walmart, Chedraui, Bodega Aurrera, and Waldos. The company focuses on offering good-quality products at accessible prices for the national market.