Supplier Enablement

Electronic Invoicing - progress for some, problems for others

It is fascinating when you read something and you think that is bang on if only I had the same clarity of expression. I read this statement: We would like to do away with paper invoicing completely because of the man hours and cost involved in processing this paperwork.

Done and dusted! That is the expression of why now we need to figure out the what and how details.

What? We need to STOP our suppliers sending paper invoices and have them only send electronic invoices. Do you apply that to all suppliers or just your top suppliers? If you want 'to do away with paper invoices' it has to be the former. What notice is reasonable to introduce this change? Should you consider incentives or compel your suppliers to act?

How? Do you let suppliers figure out how or do you provide a solution? If you provide a solution will you pay or make your suppliers pay?

In a recent blog that I started I received a posting from a business in South Africa that had tried for more than one year to get some smaller suppliers to commit to electronic invoicing. Despite much effort spanning one year they have now decided to abandon those suppliers that have not complied and are looking for new suppliers. Sooner or later those suppliers are going to face the same request from other customers and they will soon figure out this is something you can not ignore - PROGRESS.

Click here for more information about the why, what and how of electronic invoicing.

posted by FrankB @ Thursday, December 21, 2006