Trade Credit Management Strategies in SMEs and the COVID-19 Pandemic—A Case of Poland

Every large or small enterprise needs to have financial liquidity and to be able to generate profits to develop. It is not important in which sector it operates, whether it is a private or public one, but profits and safety are two elements every enterprise is not able to function without. The low performance of these two measures can cause a number of difficulties for managers. To avoid this, leading companies, especially the smallest ones, should optimize the trade credit management policy. Most often, SMEs’ (small and medium-sized enterprises) owners try to work together as part of a group purchasing organization, which positively affects trade credit management. The aim of the paper is to present the trade credit management strategy in Polish group purchasing organizations during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study uses data on the construction sector because it is one of the most important segments of the Polish economy, which is financed to a large extent with trade credit. The paper indicates the mechanisms whose applications allowed SMEs operating in purchasing groups to change trade credit management strategies in such a way that these units could operate calmly and safely in the market. These changes could be observed in purchasing goods with a large reserve, strictly controlling all receivables, switching to cash sales or limiting sales on long-term trade credit. The analysis showed that enterprises changed trade credit management strategies from moderately conservative to highly conservative.

Influence of group purchasing organizations on financial situation of Polish SMEs

Research background: SMEs often operate in markets where they compete with large companies. A fight for a customer, payment backlogs, problems with debt collection and new branches cause that managers are looking for solutions that will influence positively on the situation of financial companies. Maintaining liquidity and generating income are the primary steps to build a competitive position and a progressive development of enterprises. One of the most popular methods that allows companies to do profitable business and increase their chances for safety is operation within group purchasing organizations. Currently in the Polish market there are many different types of GPOs (Group Purchasing Organizations). The choice of the right one is a chance to improve their financial situation. Purpose of the article: The aim of the article is to present an impact of group purchasing organizations on the financial situation of enterprises. In the article the classification of groups is done and there are shown the benefits that commercial enterprises operating in them gain. The article presents some obstacles to join specific group purchasing organizations and difficulties faced by companies operating in them. Methods: The studies were carried out on the basis of 60 SMEs. These companies operated in five Polish GPOs. The groups were divided into branch and multi-branch ones. The study period covered the years 2013–2015. In order to analyze the impact of purchasing groups on the financial situation of enterprises, some selected groups of financial ratios were used. A preliminary analysis of financial balance sheets and profit and loss account was conducted. Findings & Value added: The analysis showed that the choice of an appropriate group purchasing organization had a large impact on financial situation of companies. Different opportunities can be offered by a branch purchasing group than by the multi-branch one. Research has shown that better results relate to dynamics of revenues, costs, liquidity and profitability that are effects of operation within the branch purchasing groups. The analysis conducted has also showed that functioning within purchasing groups allows to maintain safe financial liquidity, apart from obtaining a low price of purchased goods and materials, and has a positive impact on the effectiveness of managing receivables and short-term liabilities.