For many businesses, trade credit is the lifeblood of growth. Yet in 2025, too many finance teams are still managing credit applications, onboarding, and debtor books with spreadsheets, manual checks, and fragmented systems. The result is slow approvals, poor visibility into customer health, and increased exposure to bad debt. 

At Trade Shield, we see first-hand that adopting technology to streamline trade credit management isn’t just a “nice-to-have.” It’s the difference between reactive firefighting and proactive growth. But adoption can be challenging.  

Let’s explore the barriers we hear most often and why overcoming them pays off. 

Barrier 1: “It’s Too Costly to Implement” 

The reality:

Cost and risk are top concerns for CFOs and credit managers, especially in 2025’s high-interest, margin-squeezed environment. Tech adoption feels risky when budgets are tight. 

Why it’s worth overcoming:

Manual processes are expensive in hidden ways with delayed sales because credit takes days to approve, there are higher staff costs, and there could be write-offs from weak credit checks. Research shows SMEs lose up to 5% of revenue annually to fraud and credit risk when relying on outdated methods (PwC Global Economic Crime Survey, 2024). With Trade Shield, approvals take minutes, not days, and defaults are reduced through predictive analytics, meaning the ROI is measurable and near-term. 

Barrier 2: “My Team Isn’t Tech-Savvy Enough” 

The reality:

Credit teams have expertise  in finance, not necessarily in software. Fear of “breaking the system” or adding workload creates resistance. 

Why it’s worth overcoming:

Adoption doesn’t have to mean complexity. Trade Shield improves your credit process by  automating repetitive checks, and providing intuitive dashboards. More importantly, we invest in onboarding and ongoing support, helping teams build confidence. Studies show employees who feel supported in using new tools are 3x more likely to adopt them effectively (Deloitte Human Capital Trends, 2025). That’s where Trade Shield creates a seamless journey for our customers, managing the change for credit teams and processes.  

Barrier 3: “We’ve Always Done It This Way” 

The reality:

Many businesses have survived for decades managing debtor books manually. Change feels unnecessary, until defaults spike or growth stalls. 

Why it’s worth overcoming:

Markets in 2025 are faster, riskier, and more competitive. Manual credit control simply can’t keep pace with customer demands or regulatory requirements. In South Africa, average business insolvencies rose by 9% in 2024 (Stats SA), with poor credit visibility cited as a key contributor. Companies that adopt real-time monitoring are better positioned to identify risks before they become losses, and to spot growth opportunities among reliable payers. 

Barrier 4: “Onboarding and adoption will be a nightmare” 

The reality:

Legacy systems, siloed data, and fragmented processes make leaders worry about disruption during rollout. 

Why it’s worth overcoming:

Modern credit management tools are designed for interoperability. Trade Shield connects seamlessly with major accounting platforms, ERPs, and external data sources such credit bureaus. A phased implementation and onboarding process allows our customers s to  use Trade Shield as a tool for their credit processes efficiently and effectively.  

Barrier 5: “The Economy Is Too Uncertain Right Now” 

The reality:

In volatile times, many companies default to defensive strategies and cutting investment in new systems. 

Why it’s worth overcoming: 

Uncertainty is exactly why proactive credit management matters most. In downturns, the cost of defaults rises. Having predictive analytics and early-warning alerts helps businesses act before risk crystallises. In growth cycles, the same tools speed up onboarding of good clients and fuels expansion. Either way, technology turns credit management from a defensive back-office function into a growth engine. 

Turning Barriers into Growth 

Understanding these barriers can result in a clear strategy for improving credit processes.  Businesses that fail to modernise credit management face: 

• Higher bad debt write-offs 

• Slower sales cycles 

• Missed opportunities with strong customers 

• Regulatory and reputational risk 

By contrast, businesses that adopt solutions such as Trade Shield see: 

• Credit approvals in minutes, not days 

• Real-time visibility across their debtor book 

• Reduced defaults through predictive analytics 

• Stronger client relationships built on speed and trust 

Final Word 

Technology adoption isn’t about replacing people; it’s about empowering them. Trade Shield helps credit and finance teams work smarter, not harder. By removing friction, reducing risk, and unlocking growth, credit teams are empowered to manage their debtors books with ease 

In 2025, the question isn’t “Can we afford to adopt trade credit technology?”  

The real question is: “Can we afford not to?”