Raúl Plata Rico, Co-Founder and CEO, ARKHO

Could you please introduce yourself with your name and position?

My name is Raúl Plata. I am the CEO and co-founder of ARKHO.

Could you please give us an overview of ARKHO?

ARKHO is a professional services company in information technology, specializing in data and AI consulting, application modernization, and managed services. Our work is to help businesses unlock the full potential of their data and accelerate their cloud adoption. As a trusted advisor, we support our clients through their digital transformation journeys, helping them harness the full potential of cloud data and artificial intelligence. Our commitment is to put technology at the service of our customers’ needs, turning it into new business value and unlocking growth opportunities for them.

What have been the main factors behind ARKHO’s rapid growth from a small Chilean startup into a recognized regional AWS Advanced Service Partner?

I think several key factors have driven ARKHO’s rapid growth. First, it’s our culture of innovation. From the beginning, we set out to do IT consulting differently, staying close to our clients and people. We were among the first partners to join AWS in Chile, driven by the conviction that the transformative impact of the cloud would enable the creation of a vibrant ecosystem. 

Second, we embraced the challenge of building talent and shaping a strong human team, creating the competencies and best practices that have become part of our DNA. We also invested heavily in training and employability programs, which not only strengthen our organization but also contribute to the broader tech ecosystem in the region. 

Finally, none of this would have been possible without strong and visionary leadership, which has guided us through every stage of our growth journey.

Among your services, such as generative AI and machine learning, which ones are driving the most growth today?

Today, our strongest driver of growth is clearly data and AI. Everything starts with having reliable and well-structured data; without that, artificial intelligence cannot deliver a meaningful impact. Building on that foundation, the opportunities we’ve explored with our clients have enabled a deeper, large-scale understanding of their business. What’s most exciting is that our service lines are no longer purely technical—they are now directly focused on delivering business outcomes, which makes a significant difference in the value we bring to our clients.

How does ARKHO differentiate itself from other cloud and data consultancies in Latin America?

What truly sets ARKHO apart are our principles. We believe that when our clients succeed, we succeed, and that’s why we take great care in everything we deliver, always striving to build trust and confidence. We also recognize that we are part of a broader ecosystem, working collaboratively with clients, partners and communities to create shared value. Above all, we are known for being true to our commitments while maintaining a strong organizational culture.

What role has the AWS partnership played in your market positioning?

The AWS partnership has played a crucial role in our market positioning. At ARKHO, we have built a valuable and disruptive company in the way we deliver services, driven by the rapid technological adoption of our team and the quality of our solutions. This has allowed us to stand out in the market and establish a strategic alliance with AWS, enabling us to go to market side by side. Through this vision, we have earned recognitions that set us apart in the partner ecosystem, becoming one of the first in Latin America to achieve competencies in generative AI, data analytics, and cloud operations. While there are always new challenges ahead, we are well on our way to becoming an AWS Premier Partner in the near future.

Being recognized as one of the few companies in Latin America pioneering in generative AI solutions with the AWS ecosystem, how do you see this shaping the region’s digital future?

Artificial intelligence is creating transformational effects at every level, and Latin America is emerging as a driver of innovation and digital product development that directly benefits its population. Today, companies in the region are no longer asking whether they should invest in AI because their competitors already are. It has become a race to capture value and bring greater efficiency to business processes. That said, the real value goes beyond the hype. Success in AI depends on the ability to generate ROI and make this a real business necessity, fully justifying the investment. At ARKHO, we have developed a framework to guide our clients on this journey, helping them prioritize and identify needs in a structured way to ensure every AI initiative is aligned with tangible business outcomes.

You’ve been twice selected among the top 10 mid-sized companies in building happiness by BUK. How does this recognition reflect your innovation and leadership?

Being recognized for building happiness is a great achievement we are truly proud of, as it reflects the importance of culture in developing and strengthening talent at every level. This recognition positions us as an attractive employer brand, enabling us to retain and attract top talent. Our culture naturally extends to our clients through services like staff augmentation, which we call ARKHO’s In-House, fostering an environment of collaboration, trust, and innovation that goes well beyond our own goals.

Beyond Chile, how are you expanding your digital footprint across Latin America?

Our expansion across Latin America is guided by two key focus areas: NOLA (North of Latin America) and SOLA (South of Latin America). With these two pillars, we have built a strategy that leverages our experience, the unique culture of each country and the distribution of talent close to our clients’ operations. A major milestone for the region is the upcoming AWS region in Chile, set to launch in 2026 with an investment of $4 billion. This is a true game-changer for both the country and the region. Chile has positioned itself as a leader in technology adoption, building a long-term commitment with AWS. This investment will also be reflected in our clients through technology enablement, sponsorships and training—all designed to accelerate adoption and maximize the impact of cloud innovation. In this context, ARKHO is uniquely positioned to help clients capture value faster and strengthen their digital transformation across Latin America.

What industries, such as retail, finance, media or education, are showing the greatest demand for your solutions?

Our portfolio spans multiple industries because we believe data has no boundaries. The experience and learnings we gain in one sector can be applied and scaled across others. This approach has enabled us to deliver over 30 AI solutions across more than 10 industries, consistently aligning with strategic business objectives. At the same time, we are developing innovative solutions for the public sector, particularly in healthcare, energy and education, contributing to the transformation of areas that have a direct impact on people’s lives.

You’ve been described as having the ability to train client organizations to internalize modern data and AI practices. How does this approach set you apart from traditional consultancies?

We recently joined the AWS Training Partner Program (ATP), which allows us to deliver official AWS courses and provide access to the Skill Builder training platform. This complements initiatives we have already been leading, such as our ARKHO Academy and our alliances with universities to train senior students and co-create the skills they will need for their professional future, as well as for new talent at ARKHO. We believe that knowledge is power. Well-trained clients create more opportunities for their business, and our well-trained staff with a clearer career path generate professional challenges and strengthen the trust we build with our customers.

Could you share a success story with AWS that illustrates how ARKHO helped clients achieve significant transformation?

Of course, we have many success stories to share, but let me go through a few of them. Parque Arauco is a leading company in the development and operation of shopping centers across Latin America. We started with them in a foundational analytics and data mesh project, which has since evolved into a robust platform that allows us to co-create multiple AI solutions for their industry, taking advantage of the availability and purity of their data. 

Another case is Chile’s National Traffic Safety Commission (CONASET). One of Chile’s greatest challenges is reducing traffic-related fatalities to zero, and ARKHO helped transform the entire driver’s license system—from online exams to the implementation of a digital driver’s license. This ambitious and innovative project is now a reference point for the entire region. 

We’ve also worked with Coordinador Eléctrico Nacional (CEN), responsible for operating Chile’s national electrical system spanning more than 3,000 kilometers. For more than three years, we have supported them on data governance and data quality initiatives, ensuring reliable, open-access information for all energy generators and stakeholders.

And last but not least, we developed ICDXpert in Healthcare, a solution for the International Classification of Diseases (ICD). It automatically codifies information from medical discharge summaries (epicrises) into a standard WHO code. This system makes the Diagnosis-Related Groups (DRG) process far more efficient, taking over tasks traditionally performed by specialized medical teams. That’s a solution we are currently working on.

As we share ARKHO’s story with a global audience, what message would you like to leave with our readers?

ARKHO has a proven track record of developing competencies in the region. We have the capacity and abilities to create impact not only in Latin America but globally. One of our key dreams is to spread our knowledge and experience throughout the world.