FacilitaPay Tackles LATAM’s Real-Time Payment Revolution

Real-time payment rails are maturing across Latin America, each at different speeds. Companies face critical decisions about when to adopt country-specific infrastructure versus standardised approaches.

Breno Queiroz, Chief Technology Officer at FacilitaPay, says both approaches have merit.

"Standardisation accelerates scale, but local rails build credibility and efficiency," he explains.

Companies should adopt country-specific infrastructure when local schemes reach critical mass. Breno reveals: "Like Pix in Brazil or PSE in Colombia, standardise wherever interoperability doesn't compromise speed or compliance."

The right timing depends on volume, risk and local regulation readiness. Payment providers must navigate these factors carefully when entering markets.

Brazil's Pix has revolutionised instant payments. Other Latin American countries are following suit with similar solutions.

Payment providers face the challenge of balancing innovation with regulatory compliance across multiple jurisdictions. Breno continues that the solution involves designing compliance as a product feature, not a limitation.

"Latin American regulators are moving fast, often faster than companies expect, so proactive alignment is key," he notes.

Payment providers should build frameworks flexible enough to adapt to changing customer expectations and anti-money laundering rules.

Maintaining charging infrastructure allows innovation to flourish instead of creating bottlenecks. This approach enables payment providers to stay ahead of regulatory requirements.

Breno explains that payment providers need flexibility in their systems. Frameworks must adapt without compromising the core infrastructure.

Consumer payment preferences reshape the landscape

Consumer payment preferences in Latin America are reshaping the landscape for global companies. International players often misunderstand local behaviours in these markets.

Juliana Di Pietro, Head of Sales at FacilitaPay, says Latin American consumers are incredibly digital-first but hyper-local in their interests.

"Global players often assume adoption mirrors Europe or Asia, yet here payment preference is driven by accessibility, not convenience," she explains.

Local methods like Pix or SPEI aren't just payment options. Juliana reveals they form part of daily financial life across the region.

The biggest misconception involves thinking that card-first adoption applies in Latin America. "For Latin America, it's cashless without cards; success means understanding the cultural barriers and layers behind every transaction," Juliana says.

Success in the region requires understanding these cultural barriers. Payment providers must recognise the layers behind every transaction.

Localised payment infrastructure plays a crucial role in financial inclusion. Juliana explains that local infrastructure democratises access across the region.

When users can pay or receive money instantly without needing a traditional bank account, financial inclusion moves from policy to reality. This shift represents a fundamental change in how populations access financial services.

Measuring impact through behavioural shifts

Companies should examine specific metrics beyond transaction volumes. Juliana continues: "How many users move from cash to digital, how small merchants and SME merchants increase online sales and how payment frequency evolves."

Real inclusion is measured by empowerment, not just numbers. These behavioural shifts demonstrate the true impact of payment infrastructure.

Small merchants and SME merchants benefit from increased online sales. Payment frequency evolves as users become more comfortable with digital methods.

Cross-border e-commerce is accelerating in Latin America. International merchants face hidden friction points that prevent them from converting regional customers.

These friction points differ from those in developed markets. International merchants must understand regional customer expectations.

Juliana reveals the biggest friction isn't technical but emotional. "Local customers expect to pay in local currency through familiar methods without surprise fees," she says.

Many global merchants underestimate the role of local trust. A checkout that doesn't feel local kills conversions immediately.

In developed markets, friction concerns user experience. "But for Latin America it's being relatable; cross-border merchants must think local checkout with global backbone," Juliana explains.

Cross-border merchants must think local checkout with global backbone. This approach balances regional expectations with international standards.

Building versus partnering decisions

Companies expanding payment capabilities in emerging markets must navigate the build versus partner decision. They must balance speed to market against local expertise requirements.

Juliana says speed wins deals but local expertise sustains them. Building gives control but delays market entry, whilst partnering brings instant credibility.

Partnering brings instant credibility in markets where trust matters. Companies must weigh control against speed.

The smart path involves co-building. "Using local partners as infrastructure accelerators whilst retaining strategic ownership of user experience," Juliana explains.

Local partners serve as infrastructure accelerators. Companies retain strategic ownership of user experience.

"Companies that balance both don't just enter the market, they become part of its ecosystem."