2023年1月23日

拉丁美洲一直是數字化程度最低的地區之一，在線貿易在零售總額中所占的份額僅次於非洲。然而，金融科技獨角獸Ebanx的一項研究顯示，在疫情大流行的背景下，電子商務正在迅速趕上，即時支付或電子錢包交易等非傳統替代品正在獲得市場份額。該公司最近發布了《Beyond Borders 2022/2023》報告，概述了拉丁美洲的在線貿易和數字支付。過去幾年，普惠金融從較低的起點開始加速發展。這項研究突顯了越來越多的人被納入金融體係所取得的進展。但Ebanx認為，盡管有銀行賬戶和信用卡等傳統產品，但在電子商務激增的背景下，非傳統支付正在突飛猛進。Ebanx表示，2011年至2021年間，擁有信用卡的拉美人比例從39%躍升至73%，而拉美隻有28%的人擁有信用卡。“其他支付方式正從賬戶數量和銀行卡數量之間的差距中找到增長空間。”據該公司稱，2022年非傳統支付占該地區電子商務總量的39%，比兩年前的31%有了大幅增長，哥倫比亞和巴西的峰值分別為50%和44%。報告指出:“隨著新的數字消費者開始使用電子商務，基於賬戶的轉賬、現買後付和數字錢包在拉丁美洲正在興起。” E-commerce doubles its share Not long ago, account-based transfers were a negligible payment method in Latin America. Due to a poor user experience and low financial inclusion in the region, they represented only 4% of e-commerce sales in 2018, according to Americas Market Intelligence data. Then came the pandemic and the implementation of user-friendly systems such as Pix in Brazil, which saw massive adoption and contributed to digitization reaching unprecedented levels in the region. According to the report, account-based transfer systems such as Pix will reach 17% of all e-commerce trade in Latin America this year. With a population of 650 million, Latin America harbors a significant potential clientele of digital buyers. Yet adoption in this part of the world has been traditionally lower than elsewhere. But the pandemic changed everything. According to data compiled by Statista, the share of e-commerce as a percentage of total retail sales in the region went rapidly from 4% in 2018 (only behind Africa with 1%) to 11% as of last year, more than doubling in size. Despite that growth, there is still potential for a further catch-up. The region still lags behind developed countries, with 16% in Europe and almost 25% in North America and Asia. Digital payments growing To be sure, credit cards continue to hold the lion’s share of the market. At 51% of all e-commerce sales in Latin America as of 2022. However, the number is down from 56% in 2019. Debit cards are at 10%, also on a downward trend. The report by Ebanx states that account-based transfers are the top pick beyond credit cards, with the most significant growth tied to Pix and other methods, such as PSE in Colombia and Spei in Mexico. Next in line are digital wallet payments and cash-based settlements. “New technology is increasing the use of alternative payment methods and enabling more digital ways to boost financial inclusion in the region,” Juliana Etcheverry, Director of Strategic Payments Partnerships at Ebanx, was quoted as saying. “Through technology, APMs have become more convenient, cheaper, and easier to use. Overall, it’s a better experience.” Argentina leading the way in e-wallets According to Ebanx, Argentina leads the way regarding digital wallet payments in the region. The dominance of Mercado Pago, e-commerce giant Mercado Libre’s fintech arm, is still undisputed, and its digital wallet is practically ubiquitous in every smartphone. Twenty-three percent share of Argentinian digital commerce is paid with e-wallets, the study found. Users rely on Mercado Pago’s virtual wallet to execute payments on the marketplace. Although some competitors have risen in recent years, no one has yet been able to mirror Mercado Libre’s results. Source: Fintech Nexus