White paper shows a pan-European e-invoicing network model is possible
The need for a pan-European e-invoicing network has been manifesting acutely over the past year. Such a network – which would need to be based on an inclusive model that provides universal reach – ought to satisfy the high level requirements of all parties involved, regardless of category or industry, ranging from consumer to corporate and facilitated by service providers. According to a white paper published today by Dutch consultancy firm Innopay, an inclusive e-invoicing network model meeting all these requirements is actually possible and may serve as a basis to create new business models with network effects.
The white paper, titled “Towards an inclusive e-invoicing network model”, argues that such a network model could be used by any category of end user, re-uses existing infrastructures and network capabilities and offers a pragmatic and feasible approach to create a level playing field for service providers (including banks) that serve senders, receivers or both. According to the Innopay research other requirements which should be met by a pan-European e-invoicing network include a uniform and open address space, ease of use, choice of service provider, and the ability of the network model to accommodate different existing and new solutions for the exchange of e-invoice data conforming to requirements of authenticity of origin, integrity of content and archiving set by tax authorities as well as to support other processes within value chain imposed by business environment.
Innopay also argues that all the design principles can be met when a two-tiered network model is constructed. Within such a model, the Internet messaging format and address space (email) are used for e-invoice notifications with unrestricted reach, while a network of service providers is employed for the secure exchange of structured e-invoice data related to the e-invoice notification.
