El Comercio Electrónico en Colombia y Brasil

Abstract

This essay analyzes the opportunities and gaps in e-commerce between Brazil and Colombia for international business, based on the hypothesis that Brazil is more developed in this area. The central objective is to compare the digital infrastructure, payment methods, internet penetration, and consumer experience in both countries, in order to derive proposals that strengthen Colombian e-commerce and its international projection. The work is developed as a mixed-methods essay, supported by an academic visit to the Pontifical Catholic University of Colombia (PUC) in Brazil, an interview with a digital economy expert, observation logs, and a review of academic, governmental, and market intelligence sources. The methodology is based on the systematization and comparative analysis of quantitative and qualitative data on digital commerce in both countries. The results show that Brazil leads e-commerce in Latin America due to its robust digital infrastructure, the massive adoption of Pix, a consolidated mobile-first and phygital ecosystem, and higher transaction volumes and projected growth. Colombia is showing rapid growth and improvements in connectivity, but faces barriers in logistics, trust in digital payments, and the adoption of innovative technologies, as well as a smaller share of e-commerce in international business. The analysis highlights that, in addition to market size, innovation, partnerships with fintechs, and the quality of the user experience are key factors. It concludes that Brazil maintains a structural advantage, but Colombia can close the gap through bilateral cooperation, technology transfer, and a phased plan that includes the expansion of instant payment systems like BreB, incentives for the use of digital payments, and joint digital transformation training programs for businesses.