How do small shops in GCC track customer credit today?
I’m researching how small businesses in GCC countries handle customer credit and unpaid balances.
Many groceries, cafeterias, workshops, and neighborhood shops still allow trusted customers to “pay later,” but I’m curious how this is actually managed today in the Gulf region.
Do most businesses use:
- paper notebooks,
- Excel,
- WhatsApp,
- accounting software,
- or dedicated apps?
I’m also trying to understand a few things:
- Is customer credit still common in Bahrain/UAE/Saudi/etc.?
- What’s the biggest frustration with tracking it?
- Do customers ask for statements or reminders?
- Would business owners realistically pay monthly for a very simple tool that manages this?
- Is simplicity more important than advanced features?
I’m exploring the idea of a simple GCC-focused tool for tracking customer balances, payment history, and reminders without complicated accounting software.
Would genuinely appreciate honest opinions from business owners or anyone familiar with small retail operations in the GCC.
Not promoting anything — genuinely trying to understand current practices in the GCC.