Introduction
Electronic-invoicing (also known as e-invoicing, EIPP or electronic invoice presentment and payment) has captured the interest of prospective buyers at companies and institutions around the world because of its well documented reputation of achieving the lowest cost Accounts Payable (AP) transaction processing. There are many definitions and capabilities of e-invoicing, including the creation and receipt of an electronic invoice; the transformation of a paper invoice into an electronic invoice; the automated entry and validation of its data by a financial accounting (ERP) system; workflows to resolve purchase order discrepancies, manage non-purchase order invoices, payment approval and electronic payments.

Invoice receipt, capture, ERP system entry and validation have the most visible cost implications. Before considering the technologies to automate these areas, prospective buyers need to address the challenge of automating the end-to-end process to realize the complete set of benefits:
• Cost and error reduction
• Strengthening and automation of internal controls
• Maximum visibility into the process
• Optimizing AP’s management of cash
• Improved service delivery
• Efficient, self-service interaction for suppliers and internal
customers

To realize these benefits, buyers must develop an e-invoicing strategy that incorporates the needs and desired benefits, and addresses the inhibitors to adoption by the supplier base.