Procesos logísticos de exportación y la competitividad en mercados extranjeros del sector empresarial de la ciudad de Quito

Abstract

The essay analyzes the relationship between export logistics processes and business competitiveness in the city of Quito. It highlights that logistics is a strategic factor that directly influences costs, delivery times, regulatory compliance, and international perception of companies. Despite progress in trade agreements and non-oil exports, Quito-based companies, especially SMEs, face structural limitations: deficient road infrastructure, high transportation costs, low technological adoption, and bureaucratic customs procedures. The study, with a qualitative approach and documentary design, identifies that most companies depend on external operators, lack digital traceability, and operate with manual documentation systems, reducing their competitiveness compared to countries with more modern logistics chains. The research emphasizes the need to digitalize processes, create integrated logistics parks, strengthen human talent training, and establish public policies that promote efficiency and collaboration among companies. International experiences, such as free trade zones in Colombia and the centralized SICEX system in Chile, demonstrate that it is possible to replicate best practices that reduce costs and lead times. The conclusions confirm a direct relationship between logistics efficiency and competitiveness, pointing out that technological modernization, investment in infrastructure, and logistics professionalization are key for Quito’s companies to strengthen their presence in global markets and achieve sustainable growth in foreign trade.