Huge companies worldwide have adopted automated accounts receivable processes, and the accounting scene is undergoing significant changes.
Do you want to know more about the status of the accounts receivable market and trends for 2025? Here are the leading statistics that you need to know.
Top Accounts Receivable Statistics
- 39% of B2B invoices in the U.S. are paid late, delaying expected revenue.
- 81% of businesses have seen an increase in delayed payments.
- 91% of mid-sized businesses using automated AR systems report improved cash flow.
- 53% of CFOs say collaborative payment portals improve AR collections.
- 72% of executives believe their AR departments lack customer focus, impacting collections.
Late Payments and Their Impact on Cash Flow
- 81% of businesses experience delayed payments on at least 25% of their invoices every month. This affects their expectations in their cashflow
- 55% of B2B invoiced sales in the U.S. are overdue, rising to 58% in the UK and 60% in parts of Asia. Late payments strain cash flow and limit business growth.
- Payment terms in Western Europe are increasing, now averaging 52 days.
- 23% are paid late due to customers ‘forgetting’ that they have to pay.
- 54% of businesses expect payments to be delayed beyond due dates, 20% of late invoices are overdue by more than two weeks and 33% of late invoices are overdue by more than a month.
Growth of AR Automation and Technology Investments
- 25% of businesses have reduced outstanding invoices by using automated accounts receivable processes
- The global accounts receivable automation market was valued at USD 3.81 billion
- 80% of businesses using automated AR software reported improved efficiency in their accounting processes.
- Organizations that implemented digital AR systems saw a 65% payback rate within 12 months and 78% after 18 months of deployment
- 86% of the accounts receivable automation market is dominated by solutions, which include software platforms designed to streamline AR processes
- Businesses that automate AR processes save 23 days on their Days Sales Outstanding (DSO)
- AR teams can process functions 87% faster, and 79% say it boosts overall team efficiency with automation
Challenges in Accounts Receivable Management
- 4% of AR collections were written off as bad debt on average.
- SMBs spend an average of 4 hours per week chasing late payments, making it 8.5 days annually
- 27% of financial executives reported that late payments were due to customers lacking funds or being unreachable for issue resolution.
- Only 6% of manually processed invoices are paid within a month
Skills and Workforce Development in AR
- 20% of companies recognize the need to enhance the soft skills of their AR teams, with a focus on business partnering (23%), oral communication (23%), and written communication (22%).
- Companies are prioritizing skill upgrades for their AR teams, with the most sought-after skills being data analytics (44%), data management (41%), and AR automation solution expertise (34%).
The Future of Accounts Receivable in 2025 and Beyond
- 75% of respondents said accounts receivable has gained greater strategic importance in their companies over the past two years.
- 21% have improved customer relationships by eliminating manual invoice chasing.
- The accounts receivable automation market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 12.9% for the next 5 years.
- The Asia-Pacific region is expected to be the fastest-growing market for accounts receivable automation, with a projected annual growth rate of 15% in the next 5 years.
Looking for more statistics? Check out these resources:
- Data Entry Statistics 2025
- Credit Card Debt Statistics 2025
- Accounts Payable Statistics 2025
- 7 Human Error Statistics 2025
- Accounting and Bookkeeping Statistics 2025
Or use these resources to learn more about accounting and bookkeeping processes:
- How to Convert Bank Statements to CSV and Excel
- Try the Best Bank Statement Converter
- How to Import Bank Statements into QuickBooks Online: Easy Step-by-Step Guide
