One thing about credit accounts is that it allows the people placing the order to be different to the ones involved in settling the account, and for the latter

One thing about credit accounts is that it allows the people placing the order to be different to the ones involved in settling the account, and for the latter to be handled asynchronously rather than holding up the order. Imagine I need some stuff now (or on the next truck), I can place the order and it will be immediately loaded on the truck. Then separately, they'll send an invoice to the accounting department who will settle it over a week or two, which may involve moving money around, foreign exchange, etc.