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Our Subscribers Say...
I think Credit Today is fantastic. You cover many practical topics in the credit field that I use regularly. Just one recent example—a conversation on the ListServ about preferential payments—gave me tips that I used in an actual case. The specific information I picked up from this one discussion saved me $10,000, enough to cover my membership for many years!
- Steve Savino
Manager of Credit & Collections, ASSA Abloy Americas Division, New Haven, CT
Credit Today's Resource Directory and their online e-mail forum (ListServ) provide information on almost any credit-related topic you can think of. It is a great way to exchange information with other credit professionals. As the saying goes, "You don't know what you don't know."
- Scott Goen,
Credit Manager, Big Lots Stores, Inc., Wholesale Division
"We've recently started using the ListServ tool within Credit Today. This is phenomenal and powerful forum for gaining immediate feedback, ideas, and suggestions, relative to any credit topic under the sun, all in a real-time e-mail format."
-Javier Vela, Senior Credit Manager, Global Credit Services, JDA Software Group Inc.
"Being a part of the Credit Today online community is like having the expertise of hundreds of credit managers at your fingertips. These credit execs are willing to help you solve topical business issues as they arise. In the current environment of ever increasing competing priorities which reduce our opportunities to meet peers out of the office face-to-face, this is the most valuable tool you can have on your desktop! It's important that we have a mechanism to reach out to our counterparts quickly to exchange knowledge as well as to stay on top of industry trends."
- Victoria Artis, Director of Customer Financial Services, Pfizer, Inc.
"Over the last 10 years I've seen Credit Today evolve from a monthly credit publication into a quality source of information and guidance for the B2B credit community. The website, with its user friendly form downloads, will take you from examples of new account credit applications to bankruptcy forms and everything in between.
The Credit Today ListServ has become the pre-imminent online forum, providing an opportunity for discussion and comments (and occasional humor) from an impressive list of credit professionals."
David Dungan, Director of Credit
Justin Brands, Inc. (A Berkshire Hathaway company)
Fort Worth, Texas
"There are numerous credit periodicals available to the credit professional today. How good is Credit Today? Is it relevant? I always have to read it late, or online because my credit analysts want to read it the minute it comes in. When my staff wants to read a publication before I have a chance to read it then something is working in that publication. We have cancelled our other subscriptions. When you have the best you do not need the rest."
Ron Woods
Corporate Credit Manager-World Wide
Thales Navigation, Inc.
"The newsletter, coupled with the website and the ListServ, are to us, more valuable than any other credit publication, bar none. I try to use at least one article out of each newsletter for departmental training/discussion sessions."
D. Mark Constantine
Corporate Credit Mgr
Fulton Paper Company
"I love Credit Today and read every issue cover to cover. For me, the greatest perk of a subscription is ListServ. I believe Credit Today's ListServ members may be the most knowledgeable Credit brain trust in existence today. I have saved and categorized hundreds of contributions on a wide variety of topics which I refer to often. It's an easy and cost effective way to network and learn."
Doug M. Thomas
Kimberly-Clark Customer Financial Services |
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Placing a Priority on Customer Visits
Sure, customer visits are important. But how much time can a busy credit manager allot to them? One California company has solved this problem by appointing four "area credit representatives" (ACRs) located throughout the United States who visit customers on a regular basis. These reps work out of their homes and use company cars.
ACRs spend four days a week in the one or two top-volume metropolitan areas of their territories. They spend the fifth day at home doing office work. "They also get out to the rest of their territories as needed," according to the corporate CM.
There are no set procedures for the calls. Each ACR is free to select the way that works best. "One makes appointments with all customers," notes the CM. "Another almost always makes calls unannounced."
ACRs travel frequently with local salespeople. "Joint calls are usually made at the request of the local sales manager, but on occasion we will make the request," he says. The flexibility allows the ACRs and the salespeople to work in harmony.
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ACRs visit customers for several reasons:
- Sometimes, they just drop in to say hi, to see how things are going, and to ask if there is anything they can do to help the customers.
- Other times, they call on customers that are delinquent or experiencing problems. They brainstorm with the customers and try to develop workable plans to solve problems.
- More commonly, ACRs perform "legwork" for customers to speed up the payment process.
ACRs have laptop computers with access to the company's mainframe for transmitting and receiving real-time data. The laptops also have the capability to receive and send fax transmissions. ACRs work closely with inside collection analysts, who are also assigned to specific territories and customer bases.
The inside collection analysts provide support to ACRs as needed, including sending copies of invoices, proofs of deliveries, and other documents for verification of customer accounts.
Editor's Note: The above article originally appeared in the Credit & Collection Manager's Letter, a newsletter purchased by Credit Today in 2006. This article originally appeared prior to 2000.
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Outlook 2012
This month's survey explores...
- What the top problems are facing credit execs currently, and
- What the top improvement initiatives are.
Click here to participate!
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