name: dLocal FinOps Framework
description: FinOps considerations for organizations using dLocal's emerging markets payment platform. dLocal charges transaction-based fees negotiated per merchant, with costs varying by country, payment method, and volume. Multi-currency operations introduce FX conversion costs. Cost optimization requires volume commitments, payment method selection, and market-specific settlement strategies.
version: "1.0"
url: https://www.dlocal.com/our-solution/
framework: FOCUS-1.0
costCategories:
  - name: Transaction Fees
    description: Per-transaction fees charged on each payment processed through the dLocal platform. Rates are negotiated based on merchant volume, geography, and payment method mix.
    type: variable
    unit: per-transaction
    drivers:
      - Transaction volume
      - Payment method (cards vs. cash vs. bank transfer vs. mobile money)
      - Country/region
      - Currency pair
    optimization:
      - Negotiate volume commitments for lower per-transaction rates
      - Optimize payment method routing to lower-cost local methods
      - Consolidate transactions to maximize volume discounts
  - name: Setup Fees
    description: One-time or periodic fees for account creation, onboarding, and integration setup on the dLocal platform.
    type: fixed
    unit: one-time
    notes: Specific amounts are negotiated per merchant contract
  - name: Monthly Account Management Fees
    description: Recurring monthly fees for maintaining access to the dLocal platform, Merchant Dashboard, and support services.
    type: fixed
    unit: monthly
    notes: Specific amounts are negotiated per merchant contract
  - name: FX Conversion Costs
    description: Foreign exchange conversion fees when settling across currencies. dLocal supports multi-currency payouts with FX conversion between local currencies and USD/EUR.
    type: variable
    unit: per-conversion
    drivers:
      - Currency pair spread
      - Market volatility in emerging markets
      - Settlement timing
    optimization:
      - Use quote generation API before committing to payouts
      - Batch payouts to reduce FX conversion frequency
      - Monitor FX rates across settlement windows
  - name: Refund and Chargeback Costs
    description: Fees associated with processing payment refunds and handling chargebacks through the dLocal Payins API.
    type: variable
    unit: per-incident
    optimization:
      - Implement strong fraud detection to minimize chargebacks
      - Use 3D Secure authentication for card transactions
      - Monitor refund rates by market and payment method
  - name: Sandbox/Testing Environment
    description: Access to dLocal's sandbox environment for testing API integrations. Sandbox API has full parity with production.
    type: included
    notes: Included with merchant account; no additional cost for sandbox usage
visibility:
  - Detailed invoices and transaction reports available in the dLocal Merchant Dashboard
  - API access to transaction history and balance information via Payins and Payouts APIs
  - Regional breakdown available for multi-country deployments
  - No publicly documented cost export API or FinOps-specific endpoints
optimization:
  - Negotiate volume-based pricing tiers before contract signing
  - Monitor settlement timing to reduce FX exposure in volatile markets
  - Use idempotency keys to prevent duplicate transactions and associated fees
  - Evaluate payment method mix per market to route to lowest-cost options
  - Leverage installment payment features to increase approval rates without increasing cost
governance:
  - Assign dedicated FinOps ownership for each market/region dLocal is active in
  - Set up alerts in the Merchant Dashboard for unusual transaction volumes
  - Review monthly account statements against expected volumes
  - Track FX costs separately for budget forecasting in emerging markets
  - Establish chargeback rate KPIs per market with dLocal account management