eNews Archive

The B2B credit industry is constantly evolving, driven by new policies, technology and vendor offerings. However, the sheer volume of information and change can be overwhelming, even for the most seasoned credit professionals.

NACM’s Credit Managers’ Index (CMI) fell 1.1 points to 53.0 in January. Though the CMI has fallen for the last two months, it remains on the side of expansion.

Bob Dylan famously sang, “You don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows.” The market started the new year on a roller coaster, with the S&P 500 hitting an all-time high, then selling off on news of a fresh AI model from China. Many reacted by buying the dip in AI stocks, and the S&P 500 closed the month with a 2.7% gain. Mid-cap stocks outperformed their large-cap peers while small-cap continued to lag.

One of the biggest challenges in business credit is ensuring customers adhere to contractual terms and agreements. Often, this requires negotiating terms and going the extra mile to protect your rights and ensure obligations are met.

Time management can be tricky when your day-to-day work feels unpredictable. Credit managers know how easy it is to get so wrapped up in a single task that their entire to-do list slips their mind. Whether you carefully schedule out every second of your workday or keep a tentative list of tasks that need completion, it can be hard to organize your time as a credit manager because there is so much to do.

Tariffs, taxes or duties imposed by a government on imported or exported goods, have gained significant attention in recent months. For credit professionals, tariffs can influence trade credit terms, payment schedules and risk assessments. They may also impact the cost structure of international transactions, affecting the pricing and profitability of goods.

Over the past decade, more U.S. companies have adopted a Shared Services Center (SSC), a centralized unit managing specific business processes for multiple entities within an organization. In B2B credit, some companies have an SSC to centralize credit-related functions such as credit analysis, billing, collections and dispute resolution. 

From negotiating bedtimes with children to negotiating the price of a new car, negotiation—a strategic discussion aimed at reaching a mutually beneficial agreement—plays a key role in many aspects of life.