What 2025 taught us and how credit teams can stay ahead
Late payments increased again. Data became both the biggest opportunity and the biggest headache. AI moved from “a nice to have” to a daily reality. And with Belgium introducing mandatory e-invoicing in 2026, finance teams suddenly have one more reason to get their data in order. If 2025 showed one thing clearly, it’s this: credit management is no longer just about collecting invoices. It’s about data, trust, and the systems behind it.
So, before we step into 2026, here are the 5 trends every credit professional should have on their radar:
Credit management trend #1: Late payments got worse (and incorrect invoices became the main culprit)
In 2025, only 30% of organisations were paid within 30 days in the Netherlands, according to our research. This is a steep drop that puts direct pressure on liquidity. Meanwhile, incorrect or faulty invoices emerged as the fastest-growing reason for payment delays:
Translation: one in five invoices sent in the Netherlands contains an error. And if your invoice is wrong, your customer won’t pay (or can’t pay).
But there’s a second layer this year: According to Deloitte’s latest CFO Survey, 40% of CFOs now see geopolitical risks as a significant threat to their business model. In response, many are postponing major investments and prioritising liquidity preservation. In other words: Customers are holding onto cash longer, even when they can pay.
Why it matters
You can send reminders, escalate, call…But if the invoice isn’t correct, nothing moves. It’s the simplest bottleneck with the biggest impact.
What to do in 2026
Ask yourself: Do we actually know why invoices get stuck today? If the answer is “not really”, prioritise three things:
- better data checks
- integrated invoicing workflows
- fewer manual steps
What to expect next
With upcoming EU e-invoicing standards, the margin for error will shrink. The organisations that standardise now will see late payments drop first.
Credit management trend #2: Digitalisation increased (but so did data fragmentation)
This year’s Baropaper revealed something surprising: Excel made a comeback, and CRM + accounting tools overtook ERP and specialist software as the most common systems supporting collections.
More tools does not equal more clarity. Finance teams ended up juggling data between systems not built for credit management at all.
Why it matters
Fragmentation creates the perfect storm:
- duplicated customer data
- conflicting payment statuses
- missing context for collection actions
- no single source of truth
If your team spends more time searching for information than acting on it, you’re not digital, you’re drowning.
What to do in 2026
Digitalisation is more than adding “another tool”. It’s connect what you already use. This is the year to create a single overview across ERP, CRM and collections; not because it’s trendy, but because chaos is expensive.
What to expect next
As e-invoicing becomes mainstream, disconnected data will hold companies back. Integration will become a competitive advantage, not a technical project.
Credit management trend #3: AI finally became practical (and less scary than people feared)
AI adoption in finance jumped to 85%, with teams using it mainly for:
- financial reporting (38%)
- forecasting (37%)
- automation of routine tasks (29%)
According to latest Deloitte data, 90% of CFOs report that AI currently supports a maximum of 25% of strategic decisions. At the same time, our research showed that the number of finance professionals afraid AI might replace them rose from 29% to 41%.
Why it matters
AI removes the need for the repetitive parts of credit management, leaving more room for conversations, risk analysis and real customer work.
What to do in 2026
Forget moonshots. Start with one question: Which task is eating 5 hours a week and could be predictable enough for AI?
What to expect next
AI will move deeper into credit management:
- predicting late payments
- identifying invoice errors
- advising on customer communication timing
Credit management trend #4: E-invoicing arrives in Belgium in 2026, and it will change more than just formatting
E-invoicing is becoming mandatory in Belgium on 1 January 2026, much earlier than the broader EU 2030 mandate.
Companies suddenly realised: Standardisation isn’t optional anymore. Data quality isn’t a nice-to-have. And “We’ll deal with invoicing later” is no longer an option.
Why it matters
E-invoicing means:
- invoices processed instantly
- fewer errors
- faster approvals
- faster payments
- automatic matching
All the things credit teams have been hoping for.
What to do in 2026
Operating in Belgium (or with Belgian customers)? This is what you should do:
- check if your ERP or invoicing tool is Peppol-ready
- clean your master data now
- map your invoicing workflows
What to expect next
Once Belgium moves, more countries will accelerate their own timelines. Credit teams across Europe will shift from chasing invoices to preventing errors before they happen.
Credit management trend #5: Security became a finance issue, not an IT checkbox
Data fragmentation increased. AI tools became more embedded. Integrations multiplied. Result: finance teams unintentionally expanded their risk surface.
And with many credit professionals still not digital natives, security hygiene remains uneven (even though system access, customer data and payment behaviour sit at the centre of their daily work).
Why it matters
A single wrong file, unsecured process or outdated workflow can create:
- duplicate invoices
- unauthorised changes
- fraud risks
- blocked customer accounts
Security is no longer “someone else’s job”. It is part of creditworthiness, trust and compliance.
What to do in 2026
Finance + IT collaboration should become a habit, not a project. Ask your IT team:
- Which security training is mandatory for finance?
- Who owns data governance?
- How do we safeguard customer financial data across tools?
What to expect next
With e-invoicing and AI adoption growing, companies will increasingly expect their credit management tools to meet strict security standards, not just functionally, but at the infrastructure level.
A final thought: 2026 will reward the teams that fix the basics
2025 showed clearly that:
- late payments aren’t improving
- incorrect invoices are exploding
- data is scattered
- AI is useful, but only when the foundation is right
“Credit teams that invest in clean data, connected systems and error-free invoicing will spend 2026 tackling strategy instead of firefighting. And that’s the real competitive advantage.”
Do you need help getting started? We’re here. Let’s talk!
