Fragility is everywhere.
That was a powerful insight from one of the many Accounts Receivable (AR) professionals we recently interviewed to better understand the state of the accounts receivable industry in UK businesses today. And they’re not alone.
Across industries, economic headwinds including rising insolvencies, volatile demand and outdated data, are making life harder for UK businesses. Many CFOs are under immense pressure to control cash flow, manage risk and unlock new opportunities in a climate that feels increasingly unpredictable.
At the same time, changing consumer behaviour has made finance more complicated than ever before. More people struggle to pay their bills on time and insecure work, like zero-hour contracts, makes income less predictable.
For mass-market consumer brands such as those within the energy, telco and insurance industries, this isn’t just a stat, it’s a daily operational reality. Where mass cancellations of direct debits can seriously impact cash flow.
And it’s not just B2C companies that are affected. In B2B, traditional risk signals like credit scores lag behind what’s actually happening on the ground.
In the midst of this uncertainty, one function offers a surprisingly clear view of what’s really going on: Accounts Receivable (AR).
The overlooked strategic function
AR has long been seen as an operational necessity – vital, yes, but in the background. The reality, however, is somewhat different.
The truth is that AR teams lead the charge when it comes to finance. They hold a unique and valuable perspective on cash flow in real-time.
They spot which customers delay, dispute or default on payments. They’re the first to notice financial stress across the customer base. They also have a sophisticated understanding of current economic conditions. In other words, they’re at the sharp end of customers’ financial confidence and payment habits.
And in today’s volatile market, that knowledge isn’t just useful – it’s critical.
Modern AR is a business advantage
Yet despite its importance, AR is often left behind when it comes to digital investment – viewed as a back-office function focused solely on chasing payments.
As a result, many teams are stuck using legacy platforms, manual processes and standardised reports that do little to support strategic insight.
But in today’s fast-moving, high-risk environment, this approach is not only outdated, it’s a missed opportunity.
It doesn’t have to be this way.
Modern cloud-based AR platforms change the game. With AI-powered forecasting, real-time dashboards and seamless finance stack integration, they turn raw data into sharp, actionable insight – enabling faster decisions, smarter prioritisation and more accurate revenue forecasting.
In addition, unlike traditional deployed software, these cloud-based systems are intuitive for teams to use, which is essential during times of high staff turnover and shrinking budgets.
As our whitepaper “Vital Yet Neglected” highlights, this isn’t about replacing people. It’s about equipping AR teams with the tools to act early, work efficiently, and add real strategic value.
Because AR isn’t just about getting paid – it’s about seeing clearly. And in a world defined by uncertainty, that visibility is a business advantage.
It’s time to modernise your receivables and get ahead of risk and uncertainty.
Read more in our new whitepaper: Vital Yet Neglected – The State of Accounts Receivable in UK Business