Mastercard and Olist Partner to Drive Growth for Brazilian SMEs with AI-Powered ERP Solutions

Mastercard and Olist have partnered to provide Brazilian micro and small enterprises (SMEs) with integrated management tools and ERP solutions. By offering discounted access to digital infrastructure, the collaboration addresses a critical gap for solo entrepreneurs in Brazil who require automation and AI-driven insights to scale operations without increasing administrative overhead.

What was announced

The partnership integrates Olist’s Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system into the Mastercard Surpreenda Empresas program. Eligible business cardholders in Brazil can now access two specific tiers of service designed to streamline business management. The first, "Surpreenda Construa," is a package offered free of charge for a 12-month period. The second, "Surpreenda Avance," provides a premium version of the ERP system at a 50% discount.

The initiative targets a significant segment of the Brazilian economy. Data from Sebrae’s Radar Mercado Digital 2026 indicates that nearly six out of ten small businesses in the country are operated by a single person. Furthermore, Mastercard’s Dreamonomics research reveals that 89% of these entrepreneurs want to adopt more digital tools for management, while 76% prioritize stability and predictability over rapid growth.

The Olist ERP system utilizes artificial intelligence to automate operational tasks and connect different business areas. This is particularly relevant as 46% of small businesses in Brazil have had to create new workflows to integrate AI, according to Sebrae. The partnership aims to lower these technical barriers, providing SMEs with capabilities typically reserved for larger corporations with significant technical budgets. The offer also aligns with a growing focus on cybersecurity, which 77% of Brazilian entrepreneurs identify as a top priority.

"A parceria com a Olist reflete o compromisso da Mastercard em ajudar micro e pequenos empresários a simplificar a complexidade da gestão e do crescimento de seus negócios. Ao reunir ferramentas essenciais para a administração das empresas com automação baseada em inteligência artificial, podemos ajudá-las a dedicar menos tempo às tarefas do dia a dia e mais tempo ao que realmente importa: o crescimento dos negócios"

Leon Gottlieb, Vice-Presidente de Soluções para PMEs da Mastercard Brasil

The companies involved

Mastercard is a global technology company in the payments industry, connecting consumers, financial institutions, merchants, and governments across more than 210 countries and territories. The company has a significant presence in the Brazilian market, where it has increasingly moved beyond traditional payment processing to offer a value proposition that includes credit, cybersecurity, and business management tools. Mastercard Brasil specifically focuses on localizing these global solutions to meet the needs of the country's vast SME sector, which represents over 95% of active companies in Brazil.

Olist is a prominent Brazilian platform specializing in digital solutions for the SME segment. It provides an ecosystem that includes an ERP system designed to simplify the complexity of managing a digital business. By offering tools that automate tasks and provide data-driven insights, Olist enables smaller merchants to compete more effectively in the digital marketplace. The company’s technology is built to handle the specific operational challenges of the Brazilian market, from inventory management to integration with various sales channels, making it a strategic partner for financial services providers looking to deepen their relationship with small business owners.

What FF News has reported before

Mastercard has been active in expanding its digital ecosystem and security infrastructure globally. FF News recently reported on how Mastercard and MrBeast's Beast Industries Partner to Launch Creator Co-Brand Cards, highlighting the company's focus on the creator economy. In terms of global infrastructure, the company also Launches Gateway in Syria to Reconnect Nation to Global Digital Payments.

On the security and digital asset front, the network has introduced new measures to protect the ecosystem, such as when Mastercard Launches Stablecoin Security to Combat Fraud in Digital Asset Payments. Additionally, FF News covered developments in tokenization where Episode Six Debuts Real-Time 'Verified Backing' for Bank-Issued Tokenized Deposits, reflecting the broader trend of digitizing financial assets that Mastercard is navigating.

What this means

This move signals a shift in how payment giants maintain loyalty among SMEs. By bundling ERP software with card benefits, Mastercard is moving into the "operating system" of the business, making its services harder to displace than a simple payment rail. For the Brazilian market, this puts pressure on local banks and fintechs to offer more than just credit or merchant acquiring. The focus on AI-driven automation suggests that the next competitive frontier for SME fintech isn't just access to capital, but the reduction of administrative friction. The challenge remains whether solo entrepreneurs will actually utilize these tools or if the complexity of setup will remain a barrier despite the price subsidies.