Collection and Delivery

Based on the comprehensive dataset provided for the Collection and delivery sector, the following analytical summary outlines the prevailing payment culture, risk profile, and regional variances within the industry.

Executive Overview and Central Tendency An in-depth analysis of payment behaviour within the Collection and delivery sector, based on a sample of 26 companies, reveals a payment culture that is moderately prompt and statistically stable. The data indicates a strong convergence between the mean and the median, with an average payment time of 33.3 days and a median of 33 days. This lack of significant skew suggests that the sector does not suffer from extreme volatility regarding settlement terms. Furthermore, the standard deviation of 16.9 days points to a reasonably predictable range of outcomes for suppliers; whilst there is variance, it is not erratic. The fastest payer in the cohort settled accounts in a mere 8 days, whilst the slowest took 75 days. Importantly, the absence of any companies falling into the critical 90+ day category suggests that systemic insolvency or severe liquidity distress is not currently a defining characteristic of this group.

Distribution and Quartile Performance When we organise the companies by payment speed buckets, a favourable picture emerges for suppliers seeking healthy cash flow. A significant proportion of the sector specialises in rapid settlement, with 42.3% (11 companies) paying within the fast 0-30 day window. Indeed, the top performers—defined as those settling in under 20 days—account for 7 of the analysed entities. The interquartile range of 27 days further reinforces this stability, showing that the middle 50% of companies pay between 18 and 45 days. However, creditors must realise that a notable minority still lags; whilst 76.9% of companies pay within 45 days, there is a tail of "Slow" and "Very Slow" payers (combined 23%) that extends terms beyond 46 days. Credit control departments should focus their efforts here, as the gap between the 25th percentile (18 days) and the 75th percentile (45 days) indicates that payment terms are often dictated by individual company policy rather than sector-wide constraints.

Invoice Realisation and Risk Profile Examining the specific performance breakdown of invoices, the sector displays a solid realisation rate. Over half of the invoices (52.4%) are paid within 30 days, which is a strong indicator of liquidity amongst the dominant players in the market. Nevertheless, 12.7% of payments are classified as late, a figure that requires monitoring. Whilst this is not alarmingly high, it suggests that administrative friction or tactical cash preservation is occurring in roughly one out of every eight transactions. The data highlights that whilst the majority of volume is cleared efficiently, suppliers dealing with the bottom quartile of this sector—specifically the single company taking between 61 and 90 days—may experience strain on their working capital. However, the complete lack of "Critical" outliers (90+ days) implies that bad debt risk is substantially mitigated compared to more volatile industries.

Geographic Concentration and Conclusion Geographically, the sample is heavily concentrated in the south of the United Kingdom, with the South East and London regions accounting for nearly 40% of the dataset (10 companies combined). This creates a centre of gravity around the capital’s economic zone, potentially influencing the average payment times due to the typically higher liquidity found in these hubs. The West Midlands also features prominently with 4 companies, suggesting a secondary hub of activity. In summary, the Collection and delivery sector presents a largely low-risk profile for credit insurers and suppliers. Whilst there is a distinct tier of slower payers that necessitates prudent credit control, the overall behaviour favours the creditor, with the vast majority of payments being settled within a commercially reasonable 45-day timeframe.