Telefónica’s integration with Bre-B for real-time payments has marked a milestone in modernizing the country’s B2B payments, demonstrating that the infrastructure for instant payments is now an operational reality for large Colombian corporations.

Why did the traditional payment model limit Telefónica’s operational efficiency?

The lack of an interoperable standard between banks and digital wallets fragmented the payment experience for Telefónica’s customers, creating unnecessary friction and, in some cases, causing customers to abandon the process before completing the transaction.

For years, large service companies in Colombia have relied on payment rails such as ACH, the predominant rail until the arrival of Bre-B.

Traditional local payment rails have restricted operating hours, settlement times that can extend to full business days, and reconciliation processes that are labor-intensive.

The ACH system was not designed to meet the demands of a digital economy that operates in real time.

Treasury teams had to work within predefined clearing cycles, with little visibility into the exact status of received funds and a significant administrative burden to reconcile each transaction with internal accounting systems.

For a company the size of Telefónica, every hour of delay in crediting a payment puts direct pressure on liquidity and financial planning capabilities.

How does Bre-B’s integration with Telefónica’s operations work?

Through Cobre, which acts as an orchestration and reconciliation layer between Bre-B and Telefónica’s internal systems, the company can receive real-time interbank payments credited within a maximum of 20 seconds, without needing to modify its current accounting workflows or management platforms.

The entire operation connects via API or directly from Cobre’s business portal, with full traceability for every transaction.

This architecture eliminates reliance on traditional clearing cycles; each payment is referenced, automatically reconciled, and available for immediate use in treasury.

For transactions exceeding Bre-B’s operational limits, Cobre transparently manages complementary payment rails, ensuring operational continuity without interruptions or additional configurations.

How does the Cobre infrastructure work within Telefónica’s operations?

The Cobre infrastructure enables 24/7 real-time payment collection from any bank or digital wallet in Colombia, with automatic reconciliation that includes full transaction details.

For Telefónica, this means being able to manage static or dynamic Bre-B keys and access real-time reports compatible with its accounting systems, eliminating manual processes to maximize operational efficiency.

What benefits Telefónica gets for using Cobre’s infrastructure?

From immediate payment for services to automatic and traceable reconciliation, Cobre’s API integration improves operational efficiency for companies of Telefónica’s size.

Immediate liquidity and better cash flow planning

By receiving funds credited within seconds, Telefónica can plan its cash flow with up-to-date and reliable information, without waiting for banking cycles that distort the true picture of available resources.

Elimination of friction in the payment process for its customers

With Bre-B keys available from any financial institution, Telefónica users complete their payments simply, quickly, and without barriers, which translates to lower abandonment rates and a better service experience.

Reduced operational workload for the finance team

Automated reconciliation and real-time reporting free the treasury team from repetitive manual tasks, allowing them to focus on strategic decisions that add greater value to the business.

Security and compliance without extra effort

Bre-B operates under the supervision of the Central Bank of Colombia and the Financial Superintendency. Cobre adds real-time validations, bank-level authentication, and anti-fraud protection, all integrated without any additional configuration required by Telefónica.

FAQ’s about instant business payments with Bre-B

What is Bre-B and why is it relevant for large companies?

Bre-B is Colombia’s real-time payment system, operated under the supervision of the Central Bank of Colombia. It enables transfers between any financial institution in as little as 20 seconds, available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

For companies like Telefónica, it offers the ability to receive customer payments in real time without relying on bank hours or clearing cycles.

How does Bre-B work through the Cobre platform?

Cobre acts as an orchestration layer between Bre-B and the company’s internal systems. Once integrated, the company receives payments that are automatically referenced and reconciled, without the need for manual intervention.

Integration is performed via API or through Cobre’s business portal, and is compatible with the ERP and accounting systems the company already uses.

Can any company in Colombia access Bre-B through Cobre?

Yes. Cobre provides access to Bre-B for companies of all sizes that have their documentation in order. There is no requirement to be a financial institution or to invest in proprietary infrastructure.

The onboarding process is designed to minimize activation times.

What happens with payments that exceed the limits set by Bre-B?

Cobre transparently manages complementary payment channels for transactions that exceed Bre-B’s maximum amounts. This ensures that the company’s operations are not interrupted and that all payments, regardless of their value, are processed immediately and with the same traceability.