Collections cadence
The timing and sequence of collection touches, such as emails, calls and statements, before and after an invoice falls due.
A typical cadence starts before the due date with a courtesy reminder, then follows up at set intervals afterwards, escalating from email to phone and from the AP clerk to their manager.
Good cadences adapt to the customer. A large account with a fixed AP payment run needs different timing from a small one that pays on receipt, and every sequence should pause as soon as a dispute or promise to pay is logged.
Further reading
Related terms
- DunningThe structured sequence of reminders sent as invoices approach and pass their due date, escalating in tone and channel.
- Promise to payA customer's commitment to pay a specific amount by a specific date, recorded so collections can follow up if it's missed.
- Past dueAn invoice that hasn't been paid by its due date. It stays past due, and keeps aging, until it's paid, credited or written off.