Expressworks’ Post

💡 Stop Leaving Money on the Table: Mastering the Order-to-Cash Cycle 💡 Cash flow is the lifeblood of any business, yet so many companies hemorrhage money by mismanaging the process between a Sale and Collection. It's not just about getting paid; it's about efficiency from start to finish. I've found that visibility across these five core steps is the key to minimizing risk and maximizing cash: Sales & Requirements: It all starts here. Clearly defining Client Requirements and Delivery Terms before the Purchase Orders are cut prevents 90% of future payment disputes. Order Processing: Ensure your system accurately converts the PO into a job, capturing the agreed-upon Payment Method. Garbage in, garbage out! Invoicing: Timeliness is crucial. Delaying the invoice delays the cash. Make sure you issue the invoice immediately upon delivery. AR Management: Proactive management of Due Invoices is essential. Your AR Aging report isn't just a list of debt; it's a strategic tool. Prioritize follow-up based on the 60+ and 90+ day buckets. Collection & Relationship: The Collection process should be built on trust. Effective follow-up reinforces the Client Relationship, not damages it. Be firm, fair, and focused on resolution. If your Accounts Receivable days are climbing, it's time to audit your entire O2C pipeline. Small improvements here can have a massive impact on your working capital. ❓ What's the biggest bottleneck in your company's collection process? Is it chasing POs, defining terms, or simply follow-up? Drop a comment below, and Follow for more practical tips on finance, operations, and cash flow strategies! #AccountsReceivable #CashFlow #WorkingCapital #FinanceTips #OrderToCash #BusinessStrategy

Accounts Receivable = the fastest cash you already own Many solid companies sell a lot but still feel short on cash. Why? Money is stuck in invoices. Typical case (mid-market manufacturer, ~€18M revenue): ·      DSO: 74 days (payments arrive late) ·      Growing 60+ day bucket ·      Sales offering longer terms to close deals ·      Small errors (missing PO, price mismatch) become slow disputes Quick wins that usually move the needle: 1.    Group customers: on-time / late / frequent disputes 2.    Clear term rules: who can approve what; when to ask for deposits 3.    Data-based credit limits: past payment behavior + financials 4.    Simple follow-up rhythm: day 0, 7, 14… with tailored messages 5.    Disputes on a deadline: owner, reason code, due date What peers often see in ~90 days: ·      DSO down (e.g., 74 → ~52) ·      €1M+ cash freed (size dependent) ·      Fewer disputes, faster resolution ·      Sales keep winning—now with cleaner terms Try this 15–20 min check today: ·      What’s one day of DSO worth? (annual credit sales ÷ 365) ·      Who are your 10 slowest payers and how late are they? ·      Are delays real or fixable (missing PO, price mismatch, POD)? ·      Who can bend term rules, and based on what data? 👉 Calculate your one-day DSO value now: https://lnkd.in/dy39HHNt CapAid helps teams turn AR into reliable cash, without drama. #WorkingCapital #AccountsReceivable #CashFlow #CreditPolicy #DSO #B2BFinance #Finland

𝗗𝗶𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆? I used to think AR was simple: Send an invoice → Wait → Get paid. ❌ Not quite. Here’s what I’ve learned from real-world experience: Accounts Receivable is where your cash flow, customer relationships, and growth strategy all intersect. 👉 When AR is mismanaged, you risk delayed cash flow, strained client trust, and even bad debt. 👉 When it’s done right, you unlock liquidity, strengthen partnerships, and support sustainable growth. Key takeaway: AR isn’t just “chasing money.” It’s a critical function for protecting revenue and enabling scale. Want to get better at AR? Start here: ✅ Issue accurate invoices promptly – errors slow everything down. ✅ Define and enforce clear credit policies – not every sale should be on credit. ✅ Review aging reports regularly – don’t let overdue balances pile up. ✅ Automate follow-ups – proactive beats reactive. ✅ Invest in customer relationships – trust gets you to the top of the payment queue. I’ve seen businesses with strong sales but zero cash to cover payroll—all because receivables were ignored. That’s the cost of poor AR oversight. Remember: Numbers on your books aren’t just data—they’re promises. Your AR process reflects how well your customers value you and how effectively you manage your cash engine. 👇 Here’s what a smooth, high-functioning AR workflow actually looks like in action: #AccountsReceivable #Finance #Accounting #CashFlow Credit: Niwahereza Sarah 

Want to accelerate your cash flow? Start with your invoices. Most invoices are designed around an aging timeline — 30, 60, 90 days, etc. The problem? There’s no real urgency built into that. When a customer sees where their balance falls on that timeline, they often think, “Oh, I’ve still got time to pay.” But when an invoice includes a specific due date, it has more of an impact. ✅ It creates a deadline. ✅ It sets a clear expectation. ✅ It triggers a sense of urgency to act before that date arrives. It’s one of the simplest, most overlooked ways to improve payment speed — and in turn, accelerate your cash flow. Sometimes it’s not about overhauling your AR process. It’s about making small, smart changes that get results. #CashFlow #AccountsReceivable #BusinessTips #Collections #TSI #ARManagement

Managing #receivables is not just about collecting payments. It is about understanding behavior, discipline, and business rhythm. Over the years, I have realized that strong Accounts Receivable management is part numbers, part judgment, and part relationship. It starts with the data: aging analysis, credit limits, and payment terms. But it matures into pattern recognition—knowing who pays on time, who delays when volumes rise, and who over-trades when demand spikes. That is where real #expertise lives—in reading those signals early. I make it a habit to: ✅ Integrate credit terms into my aging review ✅ Flag over-trading customers before exposure becomes a problem ✅ Recommend periodic credit limit reviews ✅ Balance sales momentum with cash flow protection Because AR is not a back-office function. It is the early warning system of a business. Handled well, it builds trust between Finance and Sales, strengthens customer discipline, and keeps the company liquid enough to grow confidently. That is the mindset I bring to receivables: strategic, #data-driven, and growth-conscious.

💸 Speed Up Your Cash Flow Still waiting 60+ days to get paid? That’s your cash flow walking on crutches. 🩼 Streamlining your AR process can turn you from cash-starved to cash-smart. Here’s how to get serious about it: ✅ Automate invoicing and follow-up reminders ✅ Offer early payment incentives ✅ Monitor aging reports every week 📌 Pro Tip: Use a “3-touch” system, reminders at 7 days, 14 days, and 1 day post-due. It significantly reduces late payments. 💬 Want to learn more? Comment Accounts Receivable below... #AccountsReceivable #CashFlow #FinanceTips #FinancialHealth #InvoicingAutomation

💸 Speed Up Your Cash Flow Still waiting 60+ days to get paid? That’s your cash flow walking on crutches. 🩼 Streamlining your AR process can turn you from cash-starved to cash-smart. Here’s how to get serious about it: ✅ Automate invoicing and follow-up reminders ✅ Offer early payment incentives ✅ Monitor aging reports every week 📌 Pro Tip: Use a “3-touch” system, reminders at 7 days, 14 days, and 1 day post-due. It significantly reduces late payments. 💬 Want to learn more? Comment Accounts Receivable below... #AccountsReceivable #CashFlow #FinanceTips #FinancialHealth #InvoicingAutomation

“𝟲𝟬% 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘀𝗮𝘆 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗮𝘆𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗵 𝗳𝗹𝗼𝘄 — 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝟮𝟬% 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗳𝗶𝘅𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀.” We often treat delays like an inevitable headache. Send a reminder. Push again. Wait. Repeat. But here’s the truth: Most delays don’t come from customers refusing to pay. They come from unclear processes, poor communication, or weak follow-ups. And that gap between what we know (cash flow suffers) and what we do (rarely fix the system) is bigger than most companies admit. 💡 In Accounts Receivable, I’ve seen how avoiding the root cause only compounds the pain: — A missing invoice detail → months of delay. — A one-size-fits-all reminder → ignored by high-value clients. — A rigid payment option → frustration for smaller businesses. The lesson? 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝘀 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆. If you make it easier for customers to pay, you protect both your cash flow and your relationships. And isn’t that true outside finance too? We chase results, but ignore root causes. We push harder, instead of asking: What’s broken in the process? The cost of not fixing the system is always higher than the cost of fixing it. So maybe the better question isn’t: “When will the payment come in?” But rather: “What’s stopping it from coming in at all?” #AccountsReceivable #CashFlow #BusinessGrowth #ProcessImprovement #WorkSmarter #ThoughtLeadership

Managing receivables has become increasingly challenging in Hong Kong in recent years. In industries like construction and engineering services, extended credit terms have long been the norm. Since COVID, many service providers have had to offer even longer credit terms for their projects. With lengthy project timelines and extended collection periods, business owners need to be more cautious about their receivables. It’s important to carefully consider whether to accept customer orders with unusually long credit terms, as delayed cash inflow poses a significant risk to the business. #Finance #Business #CashFlow #Receivables #HongKongBusiness #RiskManagement #Entrepreneurship #BusinessStrategy #CreditManagement

In the context of Order-to-Cash (OTC) processes, both payment holds and short pays have different implications for businesses. *Payment Hold:* A payment hold is a temporary hold on a customer's payment method to reserve funds for future capture. This is commonly used in industries like hospitality, where hotels may hold a certain amount for incidentals. Payment holds are useful for ¹ ² ³: - *Guaranteeing Funds*: Ensuring payment for services or goods provided - *Managing Cash Flow*: Allowing businesses to plan and manage their finances effectively - *Reducing Risk*: Minimizing the risk of non-payment or chargebacks *Short Pay:* A short pay occurs when a customer pays less than the invoiced amount. This can happen due to various reasons, including ⁴ ⁵: - *Disputes or Issues*: Customers may withhold payment due to disputes or issues with goods or services - *Cash Flow Management*: Some customers may intentionally short pay to manage their cash flow - *Administrative Errors*: Mistakes in invoicing or payment processing can lead to short pays *Which one is better?* Neither payment holds nor short pays are inherently "better." It depends on the specific situation and the reasons behind them. Payment holds can provide more security for businesses, while short pays can be a sign of underlying issues that need to be addressed. To manage both effectively, businesses should: - *Clearly Communicate*: Establish clear payment terms and expectations - *Monitor and Follow-up*: Regularly monitor payments and follow up on any discrepancies - *Automate Processes*: Consider automating payment processing and reconciliation to reduce errors and inefficiencies - *Build Strong Relationships*: Foster strong relationships with customers to prevent disputes and resolve issues promptly By implementing these strategies, businesses can minimize the impact of payment holds and short pays, ensuring a smoother OTC process.