Authors: Carballo, Ignacio E.; Garnero, Paula; Chomczyk, Andrés; Henao Monje, José Oscar.
Executive Summary
Insight·LAC participated in the development of the publication “Expansion of Digital Financial Tools to Boost E-commerce for MSMEs in Latin America,” produced in collaboration with BID-INTAL and ALAI. The study examines how digital payments, fintech solutions, and digital banking have become key instruments for expanding financial inclusion and fostering the growth of e-commerce in Latin America, particularly among micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).
The research explores the main global and regional trends in digital payment methods, fintech, and financial transformation, including the emergence of digital wallets, instant payments, open banking, neobanks, and digital interoperability models. It also provides a comparative analysis of the regulatory frameworks and payment ecosystems of Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Paraguay, and Uruguay, identifying structural challenges related to informality, financial exclusion, and digital divides.
The study further examines the accelerating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the digitalization of payments and e-commerce, incorporating econometric models and interviews with leading regional stakeholders from the public, private, and academic sectors. Based on these findings, it proposes public policy recommendations aimed at strengthening competition, interoperability, financial inclusion, data protection, and regional integration of digital payment systems.
The publication reflects Insight·LAC’s expertise in the fields of digital economy, financial innovation, international trade, and productive transformation, contributing to the design of strategies that enhance the competitiveness and digital integration of Latin American MSMEs.