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NACM’s Credit Managers’ Index (CMI) hit a 26-month high in November, jumping 2.4 points to 55.3. “The strength in the index comes primarily from improved sales revenue, but dollars collected on due and past-due invoices also improved markedly as did the dollar amount of credit extended,” said NACM Economist Amy Crews Cutts, Ph.D., CBE.

Sanctions were a cornerstone of President-Elect Donald Trump’s first administration’s foreign policy strategy. Following his victory in the 2024 election, many are expecting to see an increase in sanctions and tariffs, but the extent is still unclear.

From handling customer disputes to managing cases of bankruptcy, credit professionals are often faced with high-stress situations. However, prolonged stress can lead to burnout, particularly during year-end when workloads intensify.

Among the core responsibilities of a credit professional is the credit approval process, enabling a business to assess a customer’s creditworthiness, minimize the risk of bad debt and make informed decisions about extending credit. For larger credit requests or riskier customers, the decision may need to be reviewed by senior management or a credit committee to ensure alignment with the company’s risk tolerance.

As the B2B automation market expands, credit managers have access to a broad range of solutions and service providers to meet their challenges and diverse needs. While the abundance of options may seem daunting, it opens the door to finding a solution that can either complement an existing system or stand on its own.

It’s hard to avoid stress in the workplace—whether it’s current events weighing on you or new leadership in your office creating tension, stress can pop up at any place or time. For managers, it can be hard to lift spirits when office morale is stifled by external and internal stressors outside your control, but it is undeniably important. 

For a B2B credit manager, the news that a customer has filed for bankruptcy can feel like a gut punch—especially the first time it happens. It’s a painful and unavoidable reminder of the unpredictability of business and the risks that come with extending credit.

New technology has transformed the credit management profession. From automated collections to data processing, the day-to-day work of a credit manager today stands in stark contrast to the workflow only a decade ago, as credit managers increasingly rely on new software to make more efficient credit decisions.