The meeting, which featured the participation of Diego Roa, Chief Digital Officer of Comfama (Colombia), Luis Figueroa, Chief Operation Officer of Coopeuch (Chile), and Oscar Soto, Public Cloud Ecosystem Leader at IBM®, focused on the current challenges in the design, operation, and transformation of financial products. It was a space for sharing experiences, bold decisions, mistakes learned from, and strategies that have made a difference in their organizations.
In a context where financial users are increasingly demanding, digitally literate, and security-conscious, the need for robust, interoperable, and user-experience-centric architectures becomes an urgent priority.
Technology yes, but at the service of the business
One of the most powerful messages of the event was the clarity with which the panelists emphasized that technology is not an end in itself, but a vehicle for achieving strategic objectives. Diego, technology manager at Comfama, shared how a radical decision to closely align the technology team with business indicators, even redefining its role within the organization, allowed them to close the first half of the year with 44% growth.
For his part, Luis, operations manager at Coopeuch, highlighted how the implementation of a cooperative core adapted to their needs was a turning point in their modernization journey. “We couldn’t continue innovating if we were putting out fires every day,” he said. The core change, accompanied by the incorporation of solid technology partners, allowed Coopeuch to gain operational peace of mind and scale their value proposition.
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Automation, interoperability, and personalization: pillars of transformation
Both leaders agreed that user expectations have risen significantly. Today, it is not enough for a product to work: it must do so quickly, securely, simply, and in a personalized way. This pressure forces us to rethink not only technology, but also internal processes. In this regard, they discussed microservices, observability strategies, and decoupled architectures as key enablers for responding to these demands.
Advanced analytics and artificial intelligence were also prominent in the conversation, not as aspirational concepts, but as tools already implemented to predict fraud, personalize services, and optimize processes.
The role of technology partners: more than just suppliers
One of the panel’s consensus points was the strategic value of choosing the right technology partners. “It’s not just about the latest technology, but about experience, continuity, and cultural alignment,” said Diego. For both leaders, a good partner becomes an extension of the team, especially in critical projects such as core migration or the integration of a new payment switch.
They also highlighted how collaborative work between companies, even competitors, is bearing fruit in areas such as regulation, interoperability, and open finance. “It’s no longer just about competing, but about growing together and expanding the market,” said Luis.
Open finance, trust, and regulation: the challenges ahead
Although there has been significant progress in Latin America, the path to a truly open and connected ecosystem still faces barriers. Regulation, user trust, and cybersecurity were recurring themes. Both Colombia and Chile are seeing regulatory advances and pilot projects, but there are still technical and cultural challenges to overcome.
In this regard, it was emphasized that the success of initiatives such as open banking or financial portability depends not only on technology, but also on building trust, educating users, and working hand in hand with regulatory authorities.
Finally, another key topic was talent. Both panelists agreed that now more than ever, it is essential to build diverse teams, incorporate young digital talent, and foster cultures of continuous learning. Technologies change, but the real value lies in the people who develop and adapt them.
The webinar was a call to think beyond the technical, to build financial ecosystems that are not only efficient but also human. Digital transformation in the financial sector is advancing, but its success depends on bold decisions, smart alliances, and a permanent focus on the user.
CLAI PAYMENTS® Technologies has played a fundamental role in this journey. As the organizer of the meeting and technology partner of entities such as Coopeuch, we not only promote relevant conversations for the industry, but also accompany our allies in the implementation of critical infrastructures such as cooperative cores, payment solutions, and interoperability. Our experience in developing resilient and secure platforms continues to position us as a key player in the evolution of the Latin American financial ecosystem. If you would like to become our partner, please leave your details below and a specialized agent will contact you.
