Working in credit can sometimes mean juggling many responsibilities at once. From the overflowing email inbox to the back-to-back meetings, your days in credit are often packed with so many urgent tasks that it can be hard to stay on top of it all.

Credit professionals are wired for change, continually adapting to new technologies and innovations. From automated collections to AI-powered predictive modeling, they have access to a wide range of advanced tools designed to streamline daily operations and enhance departmental efficiency. With so many options available, finding the right product or service can be overwhelming.

NACM’s seasonally adjusted combined Credit Managers’ Index (CMI) for November 2025 improved 0.5 points to 55.0. “This is the third month in which the CMI data is showing continued expansion, consistent with the trend that we’ve seen for the past two years,” said NACM Economist Amy Crews Cutts, Ph.D., CBE. “Worryingly, the comments from respondents also continue to be strongly negative, showing significant stress behind the numbers.”

Artificial intelligence has quickly evolved from a buzzword to a daily operational tool. Credit departments across construction, distribution and manufacturing are feeling the shift. Whether teams are interpreting payment behavior, communicating with contractors or supporting sales and operations, AI is helping credit professionals work faster and smarter.

Following a year of stagnation, Italy’s economy still struggles, narrowly avoiding recession in the third quarter. The eurozone’s third-largest economy saw its gross domestic product (GDP) remain unchanged compared with the previous quarter, while expanding by 0.4% year over year, according to Trading Economics. In the three months leading up to September, Italy posted a 0.1% contraction from the second quarter, contradicting expectations of a 0.1% rebound.

India’s domestic economy shows strength with a smaller hit to exports than expected amid international trade tensions. With a positive economic outlook, India will have more room to negotiate a trade deal with the United States after the latter imposed tariffs as high as 50% on exports from India.

As day-to-day communication shifts to largely online, it is critical that credit professionals make the most of every conversation, whether it is in-person or virtual. From facial expressions to tone to body language, there is a lot to keep in mind in conversation to ensure that you are not only making your point clearly but effectively.

Those in credit management know the feeling of dread that comes from a slow-paying customer, or the anxiety sparked by a customer who doesn’t pay at all. Troublesome payment habits can weigh on credit professionals, but they also prompt an important question: when is it time to pursue legal action?

In a construction project, many elements come into play: planning, design, financing, materials, contracts, workforce and more. At the end of the day, everyone in the supply chain, from the owner to the supplier, wants to get paid. For credit professionals, the concern is the same.