Adyen highlights slow cash flow and payment reconciliation stalling SME growth, draining time and resources

Adyen, the global financial technology platform of choice for leading businesses, is today sharing research which shows small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are grappling with the detrimental effects of slow cash flow and payment reconciliation, creating significant operational challenges and consuming valuable time. 

Four in five (80%) SME decision-makers report that slow cash flow negatively impacts their business operations, particularly businesses with more than $10 million in annual turnover, according to the Adyen SME Platform Payments Survey commissioned with YouGov. This struggle is reflected in broader economic trends. Recent data from CreditorWatch reveals a 47% surge in invoice payment defaults over the past year, a key indicator of business stress. The hospitality sector, in particular, has experienced record-high closure rates, underscoring the financial strain faced by many SMEs.

Payment inefficiencies are further compounding these challenges, forcing businesses to dedicate substantial hours each week to reconciling payments rather than focusing on growth. According to the research, 73% of SME decision-makers identify payment reconciliation as a major frustration, with businesses losing an average of six hours per week on accounting and reconciliation tasks.

RMS, a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) provider in the hospitality sector, has seen firsthand how these inefficiencies impact businesses: "Hospitality operators tell us that payment inefficiencies can be a major operational burden, impacting guest experiences and staff productivity.”

“Many struggle with manual reconciliation processes, and a lack of integration between payment systems and other business tools. These challenges not only slow down daily operations but also create friction at critical customer touchpoints, from check-in to check-out," said Adam Seskis, CEO of RMS.

The SaaS opportunity: bridging gaps in SME payment management 

As demand grows for solutions that ease cash flow challenges, SaaS platforms that enable efficient payment management are becoming increasingly critical to SME success. Yet, many SMEs still face inefficiencies in payment reconciliation despite turning to these platforms for support. While 70% of businesses using SaaS platforms report that their primary SaaS platform offers consolidated reporting, 57% still rely on multiple SaaS tools, creating added complexity rather than streamlining operations.

This highlights a critical opportunity for SaaS providers to refine their offerings and deliver truly integrated solutions that remove friction for SMEs. When considering switching providers, nearly three in ten SMEs (28%) who are using SaaS platforms indicate they would move to a new platform if it offered better consolidated reporting, while one in five (20%) cite enhanced risk management as a key factor. SaaS platforms that can provide a more unified, efficient approach to payments will be better positioned to retain and attract SME customers.

"By embedding automated, frictionless payment solutions into our platform via RMS Pay, we've helped businesses reduce an average of 10 hours a week in admin time, which ultimately allows them to focus on delivering great service. Beyond reconciliation, we’re also enabling SMEs to significantly reduce disputes by 93%, translating to an average of $50,000 to $200,000 per property," said Seskis. 

Hayley Fisher, Adyen's Country Manager for Australia and New Zealand, emphasised the opportunity for SaaS enterprises to create meaningful change: "SaaS providers have an incredible opportunity to go beyond offering basic software solutions and become true enablers of SME success. By embedding payment technology that streamlines reconciliation and accelerates cash flow, SaaS platforms can help SMEs spend less time on admin and more time on growing their businesses. Those that step up with smart, seamless financial tools will become indispensable to their customers."

By embedding the right payment capabilities, SaaS platforms can provide far more than just software - they can deliver the financial infrastructure SMEs need to thrive.

About Adyen

Adyen (AMS: ADYEN) is the financial technology platform of choice for leading companies. By providing end-to-end payments capabilities, data-driven insights, and financial products in a single global solution, Adyen helps businesses achieve their ambitions faster. With offices around the world, Adyen works with the likes of Lorna Jane, the Cotton On Group, SHEIN, Nando’s, Freelancer.com, Kogan.com, Budgy Smuggler, Movember, Showpo, Rodd & Gunn, and Jurlique.

About the report 

The Adyen SME Platform Payments Survey was commissioned by Adyen and conducted by YouGov Australia online in March 2025. The sample is comprised of a sample of 435 Australians aged 18 years and older who are SME (with 1-199 employees) decision-makers using or planning to use SaaS platforms.​