Ecommerce in Latin America

Need some advice regarding online strategy

[jack9]

My software company is moving into Latin America and I'm looking for some info or advice on a good strategy regarding ecommerce. We have a PR agency to help, what I need is the online infrastructure. I'm thinking of creating either one or two web sites - one is Portuguese for Brazil, and the other is Spanish for the rest of the countries. A CMS will allow each country to localize their content, and localization/IP Redirect will keep customers in the right country's site. Either one or two ecommerce accounts will plug in to the sites and hopefully include all of the local payment methods that make this area of the world so complex.

Am I on track here? Does anyone have any advice or know anywhere that I can get smart regarding a LatAm project plan quickly? Who's got some tricks up their sleeves?
-Jack

[lorax]

I'm curious to learn if you've found any information on this yet.

[jack9]

No, it's the second time I've posted a thread like this. Looks like a good niche for me to master...

[AnneS]

hopefully include all of the local payment methods that make this area of the world so complex

You are right with this. I live in SA and design / host sites with and without shopping carts but most of the recommendable gateways do not work with many of the SA countries.

You really would need to check out each gateway in detail before thinking of setting up just one site for all Spanish speaking SA countries.

Anne

[skwasha]

Could anyone provide some info on who the major payment players are? I'm also interested in accepting payment in SA. I'd love to hear about people's experiences dealing with the complexities.

TIA