European Payment Report 2026

The European Payment Report (EPR) 2026 is based on insights from 8,385 executives across 20 European countries. The report provides insights into the payment behaviours of European businesses and examines trends related to late payments, invoice payment practices, and overall financial risk. The report was published April 2026.

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Businesses are prioritising growth, despite uncertainty

64% of European businesses are prioritising growth and 40% exceeded their 2025 revenue forecast. At the same time, almost 70% expect flat or negative economic growth and 1 in 3 businesses see tariffs as a threat to survival - highlighting the challenging environment in which companies are operating.

Late payments are worsening, becoming a growth barrier

The share of revenues paid late has exceeded sustainable levels, putting pressure on cash flow and creating a ripple effect, with 62% of businesses saying delays lead them to pay suppliers late. In response, more businesses are taking preventive measures - yet the pressure continues to constrain growth.

AI is delivering results, but adoption is uneven

AI is improving payments management, with gains in efficiency, fewer late payments and stronger customer engagement. However, adoption remains uneven across countries, sectors and business sizes, with 34% not using AI and 55% lacking the skills to unlock its full potential - limiting the impact.

Intrum Senior Economist: Businesses push for growth while rethinking payments through technology

Businesses across Europe are focused on growth, and many report strong performance over the past year. However, this ambition is tempered by ongoing volatility and uncertainty. Against this backdrop, managing payments and cash flow has become increasingly critical. Late payments continue to delay revenues, making it harder for businesses to invest and expand. At the same time, AI is creating opportunities to improve payment performance and strengthen financial resilience.

Late payments push businesses to a tipping point

Many businesses are operating close to their financial limits. Although they accept that some payment delays are inevitable, businesses are receiving a higher proportion of revenues late than they think is sustainable. The maximum proportion of businesses’ total revenues that could be received late without impacting their ability to operate is 12.08 percent, but this threshold has already been crossed; on average, respondents say 12.13 percent of their total revenues are paid late by customers.

AI adoption is growing – but remains uneven

Although 66 percent of businesses are now using AI, compared with only 59 percent in 2025, the extent of adoption remains patchy. About a third of businesses (32 percent) say they are using AI and have plans to increase usage, and a further 34 percent have started using AI but are waiting to see the results before deciding whether to make additional deployments. That leaves another 34 percent of businesses that are not using AI tools at all as part of their payments management activity.

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Insights on late payments and its business impact

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Other editions of the report:

European Payment Report 2024

The 2024 report is based on insights from 9,255 executives across 25 European countries. This years' findings shows corporate cost-cutting at a four-year high despite growing economic optimism. Businesses are losing more than a quarter of the working year (73 working days) chasing late payments.

Country Snapshots White Paper 2023

The Country Snapshots White Paper provides detailed country-specific insights on payment behaviors across Europe. Discover how inflation, payment gaps, and sustainability challenges vary between regions, offering an in-depth supplement to the main European Payment Report.