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  1. Home
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  3. Navigating Business Issues During COVID-19

Navigating Business Issues During COVID-19

Posted by Ben Smith on April 20, 2020

Ben Smith Ben Smith

How data analytics can uncover key trends

The Coronavirus (COVID-19) threat has created uncertain conditions for individuals, families, businesses and the broader community. While concern for public health is necessary, the government’s action to prevent widespread transmission has had a significant impact on many companies. The stay-at-home orders and forced business closures have resulted in a drastic reduction in demand for goods and services, requiring many businesses to carefully review cash flow and financing opportunities to help survive the COVID-19 emergency. While lines of credit and loan opportunities are essential, there are other important steps businesses can take to proactively manage their situation. Data analytics can help businesses understand cash flow issues, invoicing opportunities and optimal inventory management strategies. To help decision-makers understand how data analytics can deliver critical business insights, Clayton & McKervey has provided a summary below.

Accounts Receivable

Analyzing accounts receivable will help determine how a customer’s ability – or lack thereof – to make timely payments may impact cash flow. This requires historical information about payment behavior, current outstanding invoices, and cash on hand for a predetermined period. While some basic conclusions can be drawn from the raw data and historical patterns, it is only a starting point for more complex analysis and modeling process that puts the impact of payment delays in a broader context. It highlights risk points and can lead to potential changes that can be made to reduce exposure. This may include identifying:

  1. How cash flow would be impacted if customers were unable to meet payment terms for an extended period (30, 60 or even 90 additional days)?
  2. What policies could be implemented to incentivize “high risk” customers to pay invoices in a timely fashion?
  3. What would it cost to discount invoices for prompt payment versus relying on a line of credit to maintain working capital?
  4. If payment terms should be adjusted based on payment history? How would that impact the ability to generate new business?

These are some important questions that executives are being forced to consider in light of COVID-19. While it’s expected the U.S. and global suppliers may be able to return to some semblance of normal business in the next 30 to 60 days, the impact of current actions could have a long-lasting impact on a business’s recovery and ongoing viability.

Inventory Management

For manufacturing and industrial automation companies that manage inventory and rely on an international supply chain, the issues can be more complex. To understand how demand and inventory costs impact the company, historical data needs to be compiled and constantly updated with new orders, costs, sales, and production data. Concurrently, information about supplier output and delays are also important, helping companies understand inventory and supply policies, how to manage supply delays and overall impact on cash flow.  This may include:

  • Which suppliers are most impacted by COVID-19?
  • What is the cost of shipment delays from international suppliers on production timelines?
  • Are current supply and inventory management issues creating cash flow challenges?
  • What policies should be implemented to reduce risks?
  • Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to map your suppliers by volume across the globe to analyze for potential disruptions.

Developing a data-driven lens through which to address these questions is imperative to making the best possible decisions.

Contact Us

Data analytics provides a powerful tool to help businesses make objective decisions about policies, processes, and resources in the midst of crisis. Easy-to-use reports and dashboards remove assumptions and emotions, providing a clear picture of the situation and the impact of strategic changes. If you have questions about the information outlined above or need assistance getting started with data analytics or expanding their use, Clayton & McKervey can help.

The above represents our best understanding and interpretation of the material covered as of the date of this post. Things are moving at a rapid pace, and as such, information is subject to change. This information is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for obtaining accounting, tax, or financial advice from an accountant.

Our team is always ready to help.

Please contact us for more information.

Ben Smith

Ben Smith

Senior Manager, Consulting

Contact Ben   |   Read Ben's bio

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Navigating Business Issues During COVID-19

Posted by Ben Smith on April 20, 2020

Ben Smith

How data analytics can uncover key trends

The Coronavirus (COVID-19) threat has created uncertain conditions for individuals, families, businesses and the broader community. While concern for public health is necessary, the government’s action to prevent widespread transmission has had a significant impact on many companies. The stay-at-home orders and forced business closures have resulted in a drastic reduction in demand for goods and services, requiring many businesses to carefully review cash flow and financing opportunities to help survive the COVID-19 emergency. While lines of credit and loan opportunities are essential, there are other important steps businesses can take to proactively manage their situation. Data analytics can help businesses understand cash flow issues, invoicing opportunities and optimal inventory management strategies. To help decision-makers understand how data analytics can deliver critical business insights, Clayton & McKervey has provided a summary below.

Accounts Receivable

Analyzing accounts receivable will help determine how a customer’s ability – or lack thereof – to make timely payments may impact cash flow. This requires historical information about payment behavior, current outstanding invoices, and cash on hand for a predetermined period. While some basic conclusions can be drawn from the raw data and historical patterns, it is only a starting point for more complex analysis and modeling process that puts the impact of payment delays in a broader context. It highlights risk points and can lead to potential changes that can be made to reduce exposure. This may include identifying:

  1. How cash flow would be impacted if customers were unable to meet payment terms for an extended period (30, 60 or even 90 additional days)?
  2. What policies could be implemented to incentivize “high risk” customers to pay invoices in a timely fashion?
  3. What would it cost to discount invoices for prompt payment versus relying on a line of credit to maintain working capital?
  4. If payment terms should be adjusted based on payment history? How would that impact the ability to generate new business?

These are some important questions that executives are being forced to consider in light of COVID-19. While it’s expected the U.S. and global suppliers may be able to return to some semblance of normal business in the next 30 to 60 days, the impact of current actions could have a long-lasting impact on a business’s recovery and ongoing viability.

Inventory Management

For manufacturing and industrial automation companies that manage inventory and rely on an international supply chain, the issues can be more complex. To understand how demand and inventory costs impact the company, historical data needs to be compiled and constantly updated with new orders, costs, sales, and production data. Concurrently, information about supplier output and delays are also important, helping companies understand inventory and supply policies, how to manage supply delays and overall impact on cash flow.  This may include:

  • Which suppliers are most impacted by COVID-19?
  • What is the cost of shipment delays from international suppliers on production timelines?
  • Are current supply and inventory management issues creating cash flow challenges?
  • What policies should be implemented to reduce risks?
  • Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to map your suppliers by volume across the globe to analyze for potential disruptions.

Developing a data-driven lens through which to address these questions is imperative to making the best possible decisions.

Contact Us

Data analytics provides a powerful tool to help businesses make objective decisions about policies, processes, and resources in the midst of crisis. Easy-to-use reports and dashboards remove assumptions and emotions, providing a clear picture of the situation and the impact of strategic changes. If you have questions about the information outlined above or need assistance getting started with data analytics or expanding their use, Clayton & McKervey can help.

The above represents our best understanding and interpretation of the material covered as of the date of this post. Things are moving at a rapid pace, and as such, information is subject to change. This information is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for obtaining accounting, tax, or financial advice from an accountant.

Our team is always ready to help.

Please contact us for more information.

Ben Smith

Senior Manager, Consulting

Contact Ben   |   Read Ben's bio

related news

How to Calculate R&D Tax Credits

As we’ve seen in the first two installments of this series, business owners often miss out on the R&D tax credit opportunity and the bottom-line infusion it can provide. Many…

Read full story

Doing Business in Mexico: What to Expect this Year

Without a doubt, this year will be interesting for Mexico. To start, it’s an election year and we all know what that means…a lot of uncertainty. As the global pandemic…

Read full story

What Expenses Qualify for R&D Tax Credits?

The R&D tax credit is one of the most overlooked opportunities to boost your bottom line. Many business owners fail to claim it under the mistaken belief that they’re not…

Read full story

Clayton & McKervey Launches The Sound of Automation Podcast

Media Contact: Denise Asker, dasker@claytonmckervey.com; 248.936.9488 Southfield, Mich.—February 17, 2021—Clayton & McKervey, a certified public accounting and business advisory firm helping growth-driven companies compete in the global marketplace, is excited…

Read full story

Misconceptions About the Research & Experimentation Tax Credit

As companies put more emphasis on Industry 4.0 and business processes become more automated and accessible, the opportunities for Research & Experimentation tax credits increase. The Research and Experimentation (R&E)…

Read full story

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  • A&E Professional Services
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  • Denise Asker
  • Eric Lin
  • Jim Biehl
  • Julie Killian
  • Kevin Johns
  • Margaret Amsden
  • Miroslav Georgiev
  • Nina Wang
  • Rob Dutkiewicz
  • Ruben Ramirez
  • Sarah Russell
  • Sue Tuson
  • Tarah Ablett
  • Teresa Gordon
  • Tim Finerty
  • Tim Hilligoss
  • Wendy Reedy

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Additional news from Clayton & McKervey can be found below.

  • Subscribe to our email newsletter
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