Receivables Analytics
Interpret collection performance, aging movement, and payment timing with the correct period, denominator, and currency limits.
Receivables Analytics is the deeper collection-performance view behind the Receivables overview. It separates effectiveness signals from aging and payment-timing signals so you can diagnose why cash is arriving earlier or later.
Before You Start
- Confirm the correct team is selected.
- Correct invoice issue, due, sent, paid, and status dates before reading timing metrics.
- Record payments and customer links consistently.
- Choose one reporting period for the review.
- Reconcile multi-currency balances outside the dashboard before using the results for financial reporting.
Open Receivables Analytics
- Open Receivables.
- Select Analytics.
- Choose a reporting period or Custom range.
- Review Collections performance first.
- Continue to Aging & payment timing.
Collections Performance
Collection Curve
Collection Curve shows the cumulative percentage of receivables collected as the number of days since invoice issue increases. The headline is the final collected percentage represented by the returned series.
Use it to compare collection speed, not just the final rate. A curve that rises later indicates slower cash conversion even when it eventually reaches a similar percentage.
Collection Effectiveness
Collection Effectiveness is the all-time share of invoice records currently marked paid:
paid invoice count ÷ total invoice record count
The total includes paid, unpaid, overdue, draft, scheduled, and canceled invoices. This card does not follow the selected period and is not amount-weighted.
Collection Effectiveness Index
Collection Effectiveness Index (CEI) compares receivables collected with receivables available to collect during the selected period. It is shown as collected versus outstanding share.
Use CEI alongside the collection curve. CEI summarizes the period; the curve shows how collection accumulates over time.
Recovery Rate
Recovery Rate shows the recovered percentage for aging buckets in the selected period. The headline is the average of the bucket rates shown, not a single dollar-weighted recovery calculation.
Inspect the bucket bars before using the average. A strong newer bucket can hide weak recovery in older balances.
Aging and Payment Timing
Aging Movement
Aging Movement shows how receivables shifted across aging buckets during the selected period. The headline is the total charted movement magnitude.
Use it to find exposure moving into older buckets. It is different from AR Aging, which is the current as-of-today balance by bucket.
Payment Lag
Payment Lag measures days between invoice due date and payment for the selected period. It shows:
- average days late
- median, or 50th percentile
- 90th-percentile lag
The average can be distorted by a small number of very late payments. Compare it with the median and 90th percentile before deciding that the typical customer changed behavior.
Days Sales Outstanding
Days Sales Outstanding (period) estimates the average days receivables remain outstanding during the selected period. Lower values generally indicate faster collection, but interpret the number with invoice volume, terms, and customer mix.
Days to Pay
Days to Pay (DSO) is the all-time average number of days from issue date to paid date across paid invoices. Its supporting line shows the number of paid invoices used.
Despite the similar names, Days Sales Outstanding (period) and Days to Pay (DSO) do not use the same cohort or time behavior.
Period Behavior Reference
| Metric | Uses selected period | Uses currency selection when available |
|---|---|---|
| Collection Curve | Yes | No currency input |
| Collection Effectiveness | No, all time | No |
| Collection Effectiveness Index | Yes | Yes |
| Recovery Rate | Yes | Yes |
| Aging Movement | Yes | No currency input |
| Payment Lag | Yes | No currency input |
| Days Sales Outstanding (period) | Yes | Yes |
| Days to Pay (DSO) | No, all time | No |
Changing the period while comparing a period metric with an all-time metric can create an apparent contradiction that is only a cohort difference.
Recommended Review Sequence
- Select the period and record DSO, CEI, payment lag, and the final collection-curve percentage.
- Compare all-time Collection Effectiveness and Days to Pay only as long-run baselines.
- Inspect recovery by aging bucket rather than relying on its average.
- Find movement into the oldest aging buckets.
- Return to Receivables → Overview and inspect current AR Aging and Do next.
- Open Invoices and verify the records driving the change.
Reading Common Patterns
DSO rose but Days to Pay did not
DSO follows the selected period; Days to Pay is all-time. Recent collection slowdown can move DSO before it materially changes the all-time average.
CEI is weak but Collection Effectiveness looks acceptable
CEI evaluates the selected period's collectible receivables. Collection Effectiveness counts all invoice records ever recorded, including drafts, scheduled, and canceled records. Investigate the period's open balances and the all-time status mix separately.
The average payment lag is much higher than the median
A smaller group of very late payments is pulling the average upward. Use the 90th percentile and invoice list to find the tail rather than changing policy for every customer.
Recovery rate is strong overall but old AR is growing
Inspect each recovery bucket. Newer balances may be recovering while 61–90 or 90+ day balances continue aging.
Data and Currency Limits
- Several analytics cards can return an empty state for a new team or a period with no qualifying records.
- Zero without a supporting population is not proof of good performance.
- Cards without a currency input can aggregate values without a user-selected currency filter.
- Current invoice aggregates can combine raw amounts from multiple currencies under one displayed currency.
- Customer, invoice, and payment dates determine the metrics; a bank transaction alone does not repair a missing paid date or status.
- Analytics are operational indicators, not GAAP, tax, or statutory reports.
- The page does not provide confidence intervals or statistical significance tests.
Verification Checklist
Before reporting a metric, confirm:
- the selected period and currency are visible and intentional
- the source invoice count is non-zero
- paid invoices have both the correct status and paid date
- issue and due dates are usable
- the same currency or a reconciled conversion method is used
- recent corrections have had time to appear
- you know whether the card is current, period-based, or all-time
Troubleshooting
A card shows no data
Expand the period, then verify the required invoice dates and statuses. New teams and periods without qualifying payments can legitimately return an empty result.
DSO shows zero on a new team
Check for paid and outstanding invoices with valid dates. Treat the value as no data until a supporting invoice population exists.
The same period produces different totals across cards
The cards measure different populations, and some are all-time or current rather than period-based. Use the period reference table and each card's supporting label.
A multi-currency total looks too high
Separate invoices by currency in the invoice workspace and reconcile them using an approved rate. Do not assume every receivables card performs conversion.
A recent payment has not changed the chart
Verify the invoice and payment record, then refresh. If the source record is correct, allow the analytical aggregation time to update before changing it again.