Innovation Takes Fuel—And Right Now, It’s Running on Empty
Ask manufacturers about their biggest pain point, and you’ll hear: supply chain chaos, labor shortages, raw material costs. But dig deeper and a quieter villain emerges: cash flow constraints.
The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) reports that 73% of U.S. manufacturers say late B2B payments delay innovation and R&D. Translation: fewer robots, fewer automation upgrades, and fewer chances to keep pace globally.
Late Payments = Late Progress
Atradius found 51% of B2B invoices in manufacturing are paid late, with an average delay of 28 days. That’s a month of frozen capital—capital that should be fueling AI-driven production lines or sustainable practices.
Now add the looming workforce shortage: Deloitte predicts 2.1 million unfilled jobs in U.S. manufacturing by 2030. Without innovation, companies risk being doubly squeezed: not enough workers, not enough tech.
The DSO Game-Changer
Manufacturers who tackle Days Sales Outstanding (DSO) with robust receivables management cut delays by up to 35%. That means more capital unlocked for R&D, resilience, and competitiveness.
Because in manufacturing, every unpaid invoice isn’t just cash delayed—it’s progress denied.