Trade Credit 101 | Back to basics

Trade Credit 101 | Back to basics

From Moody’s Talks: Risk Reframed by Moody's Analytics

May 6, 2026 · 47 min · Episode 102

About this episode

This episode explores the evolution and strategic importance of trade credit in managing business risk in a B2B context.

Trade credit is a critical but often overlooked part of managing business risk, sitting at the intersection of sales, finance, and cash flow. In this episode, we explore how trade credit has evolved into a strategic lever for organizations navigating today’s complex risk environment. Eefje Van Craen, Lead Strategist for Trade Credit at Moody’s, joins host Alex Pillow to unpack what trade credit really means in a B2B context and why it plays a central role in customer onboarding and risk management. They discuss how trade credit has shifted from a back-office control function to a forward-looking, data-driven discipline that supports growth while protecting cash flow. Key topics covered include: What trade credit is and why it underpins B2B transactions The evolution from “order to cash” to “lead to cash” How macroeconomic shocks, from the financial crisis to COVID-19, reshaped trade credit risk management The growing importance of forward-looking, integrated risk assessment beyond historical financials How data, automation, and emerging technologies like GenAI are influencing the future of trade credit decisions

People in this episode

Host: Alex Pillow

Guest: Eefje Van Craen

Topics covered

  • trade credit
  • business risk management
  • B2B transactions
  • data-driven decision making
  • risk assessment
  • macroeconomic impacts

Keywords

  • trade credit
  • risk management
  • B2B
  • cash flow
  • data-driven
  • automation
  • GenAI

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Moody’s, Moody’s Analytics

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