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Person-to-business Instant payments: could they work in Colombia?

Author

Listed:
  • Carlos A. Arango-Arango
  • Ana Carolina Ramirez-Pineda
  • Manuela Restrepo-Bernal

Abstract

More than 60 countries in the world have already implemented instant payment systems (IPS). However, in many cases they have been operational mainly for person-to-person transactions. This study looks at the challenges IPS may face in developing economies like Colombia as they advance further into the P2B transactions space. Using a survey on Colombian merchants (IV-2020), the study explores the factors associated with merchants´ propensity to adopt instant payments and those associated with the adoption of current electronic payment alternatives. It shows that IPS will need to have a broad strategy to penetrate the P2B space, as they will have to compete with the low marginal costs and immediacy that cash already offers and the high levels of informality in the commerce sector, especially for micro businesses. Furthermore, IPS will have to meet the high expectations merchants have about instant payments enabling access to other financial services, enhancing their competitiveness, and increasing their bottom line. **** RESUMEN: Más de 60 países en el mundo han implementado sistemas de pagos inmediatos. Sin embargo, en muchos casos dichos sistemas tan solo ofrecen transferencias entre personas. Esta investigación analiza los desafíos que deben enfrentar los sistemas de pagos inmediatos en economías en desarrollo como la colombiana para profundizar sus servicios en el comercio al por menor. Con base en la encuesta a comercios realizada por el Banco de la República en el cuarto trimestre de 2020, la investigación explora los factores asociados a la disposición de los comercios a adoptar pagos inmediatos y otras alternativas electrónicas de pago. Los resultados confirman que los sistemas de pagos inmediatos necesitan de una estrategia clara para lograr consolidarse en el comercio al por menor. En particular, estos deben competir con los bajos costos marginales y la inmediatez en la disponibilidad de los fondos que ofrece el efectivo y los elevados niveles de informalidad, especialmente entre los micro comercios. Además, los servicios de pago inmediatos deberán cumplir con las altas expectativas que tienen los comercios de mejorar el acceso a los servicios financieros, incrementar su competitividad y mejorar su rentabilidad.

Suggested Citation

  • Carlos A. Arango-Arango & Ana Carolina Ramirez-Pineda & Manuela Restrepo-Bernal, 2022. "Person-to-business Instant payments: could they work in Colombia?," Borradores de Economia 1192, Banco de la Republica de Colombia.
    • Handle: RePEc:bdr:borrec:1192
    DOI: 10.32468/be.1192
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Marc Rysman & Scott Schuh, 2017. "New Innovations in Payments," Innovation Policy and the Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 17(1), pages 27-48.
    2. David Bounie & Abel François & Leo Van Hove, 2017. "Consumer Payment Preferences, Network Externalities, and Merchant Card Acceptance: An Empirical Investigation," Review of Industrial Organization, Springer;The Industrial Organization Society, vol. 51(3), pages 257-290, November.
    3. Aurazo Jose & Vega Milton, 2021. "Card Acceptance by Small Merchants: An Application of the Tourist Test to Peru," Review of Network Economics, De Gruyter, vol. 20(2), pages 101-137, June.
    4. Marc Rysman, 2007. "An Empirical Analysis Of Payment Card Usage," Journal of Industrial Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 55(1), pages 1-36, March.
    5. Fumiko Hayashi & Ying Lei Toh, 2020. "Mobile Banking Use and Consumer Readiness to Benefit from Faster Payments," Economic Review, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, vol. 105(no.1), pages 1-5, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Arango-Arango, Carlos A. & Betancourt-García, Yanneth Rocío, 2025. "A mixed duopoly in the provision of payment services," Latin American Journal of Central Banking (previously Monetaria), Elsevier, vol. 6(4).
    2. Hernando Vargas, 2022. "Some thoughts about the issuance of a retail CBDC in Colombia," BIS Papers chapters, in: Bank for International Settlements (ed.), CBDCs in emerging market economies, volume 123, pages 49-64, Bank for International Settlements.

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    JEL classification:

    • D23 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Organizational Behavior; Transaction Costs; Property Rights
    • D40 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design - - - General
    • G20 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - General
    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages
    • G28 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Government Policy and Regulation
    • E41 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Money and Interest Rates - - - Demand for Money
    • E58 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - Central Banks and Their Policies

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