Tuesday 4th June, 2013

The news that Italy has become the latest country to go one step further in their drive towards eInvoicing - by mandating its use, serves to emphasise the fact that eInvoicing isn't simply about the removal of paper. Neither is it just about making things faster. Several countries have taken the plunge towards mandating eInvoicing over the last few years - notably Mexico, Brazil and much of the Nordic region, and for the most part - that's where the similarity ends. Each, as is also the case with Spain's foray into mandating, have had their own set of unique experiences, cultural and economic which have driven the decision.

However, all have recognised the level of visibility and connectivity made possible by hardwiring eInvoicing into the finance function, raising the levels of compliance and reducing the chances of fraud and error. Of course, as a result there are all sort of process efficiencies which comes with this which on their own save time and money - but it's the increased visibility which is driving much of the move towards mandating its use - particularly within the public sector. In countries beset by the worst of the woes of the global economic downturn, it's a tool few would argue away as unnecessary. As Pete Loughlin of Purchasing Insight writes, "Italy will struggle to make it a success – but they can’t afford to fail."