White Paper 202: Covid-19 Special Edition

This White Paper, released in May 2020, comes as an additional publication to the European Payment Report 2020. The insights are based on data from 9,980 companies across 29 European countries and delves into how the Covid-19 pandemic has dramatically impacted the European payments landscape.

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Covid-19 intensifies liquidity challenges

The pandemic caused severe liquidity issues for European businesses, with 51% reporting that late payments reduced their cashflow during the crisis, up from 35% before Covid-19.

Sharp rise in recession fears

As the pandemic triggered lockdowns, 56% of respondents believed their country was in recession or would be within a year, compared to only 28% before Covid-19. Spanish businesses were the most concerned, with 92% anticipating a severe recession impact.

Increased pressure on SMEs

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) were particularly vulnerable during the pandemic, with 71% accepting longer payment terms to maintain client relationships. This represented a significant rise from 65% before the outbreak.

Other editions of the report:

European Payment Report 2024

The 2024 report is based on insights from 9,255 executives across 25 European countries. This years' findings shows corporate cost-cutting at a four-year high despite growing economic optimism. Businesses are losing more than a quarter of the working year (73 working days) chasing late payments.

Country Snapshots White Paper 2023

The Country Snapshots White Paper provides detailed country-specific insights on payment behaviors across Europe. Discover how inflation, payment gaps, and sustainability challenges vary between regions, offering an in-depth supplement to the main European Payment Report.

European Payment Report 2023

The report is based on a survey that was conducted simultaneously in 29 European countries between the end of November 2022 and March 2023. A total of 10,556 companies across 15 industries in Europe participated in the research.

European Payment Report 2022

Discover key findings from the European Payment Report 2022, covering the impact of inflation, cash flow management, and the importance of ESG in business payment practices. Learn how European companies are navigating economic uncertainty.

European Payment Report 2021

Discover the key findings from the European Payment Report 2021, including the impact of late payments on business growth, cash flow management, and how faster payments drive innovation and sustainability.

European Payment Report 2020

Discover key insights from the European Payment Report 2020, including the rising risk of late payments, widening payment gaps, and business strategies to cut costs and prepare for recession in an uncertain economic landscape.

European Payment Report 2019

The European Payment Report 2019 reveals the increasing challenges of late payments, longer payment terms, and economic concerns among businesses.

European Payment Report 2018

The European Payment Report 2018 shows that despite some progress in payment practices across Europe, late payments still pose significant challenges, especially for SMEs.

European Payment Report 2017

The European Payment Report 2017 explore the challenges faced by SMEs and large corporations, and learn about regional differences in payment practices across Europe.

White Paper 2023: Power and Utility industry

While profits may be up in the energy sector, higher taxes, increased regulation and exposure to consumer problems make it vulnerable as we move further into 2023. In addition, these businesses face the long-term challenges of sustainability and mitigating their sector’s environmental impact.

European Payment Report 2016

The European Payment Report 2016 finds that by alleviating the burden of late payments, European businesses can hire more, grow faster, and ensure long-term survival

European Payment Report 2015

The European Payment Report 2015 explore the effects of late payments on businesses and understand the steps needed to improve payment practices across Europe.

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