The Central Bank of Brazil announced on October 29 two new functionalities for its instant payments platform: Pix Cobrança – loosely translated as “Pix Collection” – and Pix API. The two new features were announced just a couple of weeks before Pix’s official launch to the Brazilian population, on November 16.
What is Pix Cobrança – or Pix Collection?
Pix Cobrança or Pix Collection is a feature that allows the receiver to generate a QR code including additional information other than the amount to be charged, such as fees, interest, and discounts. The feature can be used by merchants, service providers, suppliers, and entrepreneurs. Further, it is also possible to issue a charge with a future due date.
In other words, this feature is very similar to the ones available in the boleto bancário, with one fundamental difference: once the payer chooses to pay with Pix, the amount is immediately sent and confirmed, in an average of 2.5 seconds. Boleto bancário, on the other hand, can take up to 3 business days to confirm payments.
What is the Pix API?
Another new feature is the Pix API. The Central Bank of Brazil has announced that “financial and payment institutions that wish to offer the integration service to receiving users must adopt the standardized application programming interface (API)”. Among the Pix API functionalities are the creation and management of collections, settlement verification, reconciliation, and support for return processes.
The restricted payment phase for Pix started on Tuesday, November 3rd; however, Pix will be available to all Brazilians as of November 16, allowing them to send and receive money at any time of the day, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, instantly. That is: in less than 10 seconds, the money will be available in the recipient’s account.
Do you have questions about how the new payment method will work in ecommerce? Check out our article How Pix will work in ecommerce. And sign up for our free webinar, held in the Portuguese language by PagBrasil in partnership with Konduto to address topics like Pix for companies, fraud, and much more!
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