Category: Credit Risk Management

Doing business internationally involves risks, especially in the event of bankruptcy. But that is about to change. Thanks to a new EU agreement, creditors will have more control over cross-border insolvencies. What exactly has been agreed and why is this already relevant for your risk analysis?

Trade credit risk is becoming more difficult to manage due to rising bankruptcies, geopolitical risks, interest rate volatility, data scarcity, and ESG requirements. Companies need to respond to risks faster and smarter with integrated data, customized scoring models, and automation. Only then can they remain financially resilient in a more complex trading landscape.

An Early Warning System (EWS) helps companies identify payment risks early. Where it is mandatory for banks, it also offers great benefits in B2B environments: better risk management, faster decision-making and more stable cash flow. Especially in an unstable economy, actively monitoring customers is crucial to avoid surprises.

A retro analysis of your customer base helps identify financial risks by examining payment behavior and company characteristics. By combining data such as industry, company size and financial metrics, you gain insight into which customers are causing payment problems. These insights enable you to improve your credit policies and screening processes, identify risks early and adjust payment terms. So you better protect your organization from losses and make smart, data-driven financial decisions.

Credit management has transformed from manual and fragmented to automated and data-driven. Thanks to integrations with CRM and accounting systems, departments such as sales, marketing and compliance work with real-time customer insights. Through API links, essential credit data flows directly into internal systems, speeding up risk identification and making decisions more efficiently.

The Netherlands is introducing a new SBC code as of September 1, 2025. This may appear to be a purely Dutch update, but Belgian companies doing business with Dutch customers will also feel the effects. Do you use Dutch data for risk analysis, segmentation or reporting? Then this is the time to review your processes and systems.

From January 2025, the classification of Belgian sector codes (NACE-BEL) will change. The update provides a more modern classification of economic activities and has a direct impact on your data, analyses and systems. Think of changed risk models, CRM segmentation and data links. By anticipating now, you avoid mistakes and stay futureproof as an organization.

On June 6, 2025, Altares Dun & Bradstreet will launch an innovative Belgian AI scorecard for credit assessment. Powered by advanced neural networks and proprietary explainability methods, the model offers clear insight into every decision. Fully transparent, ethically designed, and compliant with GDPR and the EU AI Act. This scorecard enables organizations to assess risks more accurately and make responsible decisions in a rapidly evolving economy.

Your credit rating and credit limit determine how financial institutions and suppliers rate your business. A higher score ensures better terms and lower costs. Improvement requires a strategic approach: pay invoices on time, keep your financial records up-to-date and manage your business structure well. By acting consistently financially responsible, you will build a strong reputation and increase your credit opportunities

In 2025, we will introduce a powerful new bankruptcy score for Belgium, driven by advanced AI and a refined 3-layer structure. This score offers unparalleled accuracy and predicts risk more sharply than ever, allowing clients to make credit decisions faster and with greater certainty and take advantage of up to 25% more opportunities.

The integration of AI in credit management increases efficiency and accuracy, transforming the role of credit managers into more strategic tasks. Human expertise remains crucial in an AI-supported future.