The verdict in three sentences
When DSO exceeds 60 days, the cause is rarely clients alone: late invoicing, irregular chasing and manual cash allocation stretch every cycle. A credit control tool at 100 to 500 GBP a month (100 to 600 EUR in Paris), linked by a custom connector of 4,500 to 17,000 GBP (5,000 to 20,000 EUR) to your invoicing tool, ERP and bank, typically recovers 10 to 20 days of DSO. The same work prepares you for e-invoicing, already mandatory for receiving invoices in France since 1 September 2026 and planned in the UK for 2029.
Where DSO days are lost in a services SME
In a consultancy, engineering or IT services firm, payment delay builds up in three stages: time to invoice after delivery, processing time at the client, and chasing and dispute time. Automation acts mostly on the first and third.
| Stage | Typical situation without automation | With automation | Days gained (estimate) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Invoicing after delivery | 5 to 12 days (timesheet approval, data entry) | Day+1 from timesheet tool or CRM | 4 to 10 |
| Sending and receipt | PDF by email, sometimes lost | E-invoicing network, tracked status | 1 to 3 |
| First reminder | Irregular, depends on workload | Automatic at D-5, D+3, D+10 | 3 to 6 |
| Dispute handling | Discovered at D+45 | Reasons logged from first reminder | 2 to 5 |
| Cash allocation | Manual, weekly | Daily bank reconciliation | Visibility, no direct days |
| Escalation and formal demand | Late | Scenario defined per client segment | 2 to 4 |
In the UK, the Late Payment of Commercial Debts Act allows statutory interest at 8% above base rate plus fixed compensation of 40 to 100 GBP per invoice. In France, the LME law caps B2B terms at 60 days and adds a 40 EUR fixed fee per late invoice. A well-designed sequence mentions these politely, which often speeds up payment.
Tools and costs in 2026
| Component | Typical solutions | London 2026 | Paris 2026 (excl. VAT) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Credit control and dunning software | Specialist SaaS tools | 100 to 500 GBP per month | 100 to 600 EUR per month |
| E-invoicing access point or platform | Peppol access points, French approved platforms | 0.10 to 0.40 GBP per invoice | 0.10 to 0.50 EUR per invoice |
| Invoicing to ERP connector | Custom build | 4,500 to 7,500 GBP | 5,000 to 9,000 EUR |
| Invoicing, ERP and bank connector | Custom build | 7,500 to 17,000 GBP | 9,000 to 20,000 EUR |
| DSO and aged debt dashboard | Custom module or BI | 2,500 to 7,000 GBP | 3,000 to 8,000 EUR |
| Connector maintenance | Annual contract | 10 to 15% of build | 10 to 15% of build |
Timelines matter. In France, every company must receive e-invoices since 1 September 2026, large and mid-sized firms issue them from the same date, SMEs from 1 September 2027. The UK government has announced mandatory B2B e-invoicing from April 2029. Designing the connector around structured invoice formats now avoids rebuilding it later.
How to scope the project
Start by measuring current DSO per client segment, average time to invoice and the number of manual reminders per month. Then choose an e-invoicing access point compatible with your invoicing tool. Finally, commission the connector that feeds the dunning tool with clean data, syncs bank receipts and surfaces disputes. Allow 4 to 8 weeks from scoping to go-live.
Mini case study
Claire, CFO of a Paris consultancy turning over 8 million EUR, sees a DSO of 72 days. One day of DSO is about 8,000,000 / 365, or 21,900 EUR of cash. She invests 14,000 EUR in an invoicing-ERP-bank connector and 350 EUR a month in a dunning tool. After six months, DSO falls to 57 days: 15 days gained release around 328,000 EUR of cash. At a 5% credit line cost, that is 16,400 EUR of interest avoided per year, plus 2 days a month of accountant time freed. A London firm with 7 million GBP turnover would release around 288,000 GBP on the same 15 days.
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FAQ
Is a dunning tool alone enough?
It makes chasing consistent and often recovers 5 to 8 days. Without a connector it works on manually imported data, which caps further gains.
What does e-invoicing change for an SME?
In France, all companies must receive e-invoices since 1 September 2026 and SMEs must issue them from September 2027. In the UK, the mandate is planned for April 2029.
How much does an invoicing, ERP and bank connector cost?
Between 4,500 and 17,000 GBP (5,000 to 20,000 EUR) depending on the number of systems and API quality. Maintenance runs at 10 to 15% of the build per year.
Will automatic reminders damage client relationships?
Sequences are set per segment, with an appropriate tone and a courtesy reminder at D-5. Key accounts can stay with manual chasing by the account manager, with an automatic prompt at D+10.
How fast does DSO improve?
The first days are gained in month one thanks to faster invoicing. The full 10 to 20 day effect is usually measured after 3 to 6 months.
Let's scope your project. Invoicing, ERP and bank connector, dunning sequences and DSO dashboard, from 4,500 to 17,000 GBP (5,000 to 20,000 EUR), live in 4 to 8 weeks. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
