The year 2024 marks a key year in terms of digital challenges, and especially the integration of artificial intelligence. The observation is clear, more than half of French companies will invest directly or through external service providers in artificial intelligence to support their back office and late payment management.
How will the company’s financial situation improve in 2024? Despite the pessimistic estimates, the prospects for the growth of turnover of French companies exceed the estimated expectations.
In 2024, 32% of French companies say they feel much stronger than in 2023 (25%) and 21% in 2022. 36% of them say that their traffic growth is in line with their expectations, and 27% even say that it greatly exceeds their expectations.
Extracted from the latest report by credit management specialist Intrum, this data (collected from 400 French companies as well as 9,255 companies in Europe) shows a major evolution in the priorities of French companies.
The resilience of growth and the maintenance of employment and productivity, reinforced by the neutralization of energy price shocks, have left more room for maneuver for French companies.
Track unpaid debts
Now 66% of French companies say they are no longer affected by delivery delays. payment and 20% of them even declare that they no longer have a stock of late payment debts.
As for the 34% of French companies (compared to 58% in 2020 and 44% at the European level in 2024) that still declare that they are affected by payment delays, the average amount of outstanding claims is around 2,230 euros.
Another significant fact is that fewer French companies spend significant time following up with their clients in case of unpaid debts. On average, in 2024, 40% of French companies spend between 10 and 20 hours a week in contact with their customers, compared to less than 45% in 2023.
Concerns about generative artificial intelligence
The observation is clear, more than half of French companies (54% and 57% at the European level) will invest directly or through external service providers in artificial intelligence to support their back office and management of late payments. The main risk, mentioned by 61% of French companies (compared to 55% at the European level), is the deterioration of customer relations that contribute to the company’s success.
Automation and the resulting dehumanization cause concern and questioningGenerative AI. The risk of disconnection and loss of human interactions, associated with a lack of expertise, also concerns managers.
Even if French companies are convinced by artificial intelligence, certain obstacles are difficult to overcome. For 56% of French companies, the tool can make unfair or biased decisions based on historical data that is sometimes not updated (risk of socioeconomic discrimination).
The ultimate challenge for generative artificial intelligence lies in its integration with existing operating systems (57% of companies consider this a significant risk. Lack of insight into the future of generative artificial intelligence and how decisions could be made is considered risky by 95% of the French). companies (including 11% who consider it a significant risk).
It is therefore crucial that enterprises strategically integrate AI tools, maintaining an appropriate level of human interaction and prioritizing a user-centric approach.