Mercado Libre + Odoo: Managing Latin American eCommerce Operations

Mercado Libre is the undisputed eCommerce leader in Latin America, operating across 18 countries with over 200 million active users. For businesses targeting LATAM markets, Mercado Libre is not just one channel — it is often THE channel, commanding 30-50% market share in most Latin American countries.

Integrating Mercado Libre with Odoo brings structured ERP operations to a marketplace built for the unique complexities of Latin American commerce.

Latin American eCommerce Challenges

LATAM eCommerce has characteristics that require specialized handling:

• Multi-country operations — Each country has different tax regimes, currencies, and consumer protection laws
• Mercado Pago integration — Mercado Libre's payment system handles installment payments (cuotas), a defining feature of LATAM commerce
• Complex invoicing — Mexico requires CFDI electronic invoices, Brazil requires NF-e, Argentina requires electronic billing
• High fraud rates — Latin America has some of the highest online fraud rates globally
• Logistics complexity — From Amazon-like urban delivery to mule-accessible rural routes

Integration Architecture

The Mercado Libre Store Management module connects via Mercado Libre's REST API:

| Data | Direction | Specifics | |---|---|---| | Products | Odoo → ML | Per-country listings with local pricing | | Inventory | Odoo → ML | Per-country stock levels | | Orders | ML → Odoo | Including payment installment data | | Shipping | Odoo → ML | Mercado Envios tracking | | Claims/disputes | ML → Odoo | Buyer protection case management | | Settlements | ML → Odoo | Per-country payout reconciliation |

Mercado Pago and Installment Payments

Installment payments (cuotas) are fundamental to LATAM commerce — up to 50% of transactions use installments:

• Interest-free installments — Seller-funded, the cost is deducted from settlement
• Interest-bearing installments — Buyer pays interest, seller receives full amount
• Mixed installments — Seller subsidizes part of the interest

The Odoo integration tracks:

• Full sale price on the sales order
• Installment plan details (number of installments, interest allocation)
• Net settlement amount after Mercado Pago fees and installment subsidies
• Accurate revenue recognition across installment periods

Country-Specific Tax Compliance

Mexico (CFDI)

Mexican tax law requires CFDI (Comprobante Fiscal Digital por Internet) electronic invoices:

• UUID timbrado (digital tax stamp) for every invoice
• SAT (tax authority) catalog codes for products and services
• PAC (Proveedor Autorizado de Certificacion) integration for stamping
• XML and PDF invoice generation compliant with SAT requirements

Brazil (NF-e)

Brazilian sellers must issue NF-e (Nota Fiscal Eletronica):

• NCM codes for product classification
• ICMS, PIS, COFINS, and IPI tax calculations
• State-specific tax rates (ICMS varies by state)
• SEFAZ integration for electronic invoice authorization

Argentina

• AFIP electronic billing compliance
• CUIT validation for B2B transactions
• Perception and withholding tax handling

Mercado Envios (Shipping)

Mercado Libre's integrated shipping platform:

• Mercado Envios Full — Mercado Libre's fulfillment service (like FBA). Inventory transfers tracked in Odoo.
• Mercado Envios Flex — Same-day delivery in major cities. Odoo manages dispatch scheduling.
• Mercado Envios Standard — Traditional carrier shipping with Odoo-generated labels.

Multi-Country Operations

For businesses selling across multiple LATAM markets:

• Separate Mercado Libre accounts per country connected to one Odoo instance
• Multi-currency handling (BRL, MXN, ARS, COP, CLP)
• Per-country tax compliance automation
• Consolidated P&L in your reporting currency
• Currency translation adjustments in Odoo Accounting

Getting Started

1. Install the Mercado Libre Store Management module
2. Register for Mercado Libre Developer API access
3. Authorize each country account via OAuth
4. Configure tax settings per country
5. Map products with country-specific attributes
6. Enable order sync with installment payment handling
7. Set up settlement import and reconciliation

Contact us for a LATAM eCommerce strategy consultation or explore the Mercado Libre Store Management module.