Invoice.fans offers a centralized access to various e-invoice formats, the development of standard industry profiles based on the EU core invoice and the verification of messages against those formats.

Invoice standards Onboarding EN16931 News

E-Invoice: From standard to implementation

The development of electronic invoices has taken large steps forward for a number of years, though the electronic invoice itself is nothing new. Electronic invoices have already been exchanged in many sectors for several decades. Over the years, many formats have been developed. And also some standards. However, in practice these standards are rarely fully implemented. Instead, user groups or individual companies keep on creating individual guidelines or specifications. It has become customary that the use is then made compulsory within the scope of the business relationship, e.g. by a contractual agreement.

As a result for the invoice sender this means that he often has to use many different interfaces. Thus an implementation is cost intensive. On the other hand, the invoice recipient generally has the goal that the processing of electronic invoices shall be as automated as possible.

Technical documentation of usage recommendations

If an invoice specification is to be implemented, technical documentation is indispensable. Invoice.Fans provides a uniform representation of the various standards and usage recommendations (Core Invoice Usage Specification CIUS) at a central location.

Thus the structure is easy to understand and the quality of the implementation is increased.

Development of Core Invoice Usage Specification CIUS

The European standard defines how core-compliant usage recommendations can be developed. This means that industry-specific requirements can be represented in a profile. An example for a CIUS is the German XRechnung as well as ZUGFeRD 2.0 in profile EN16931.

In addition to this portal, a free CIUS tool is available. It can be used if you want to develop a CIUS in your organization, your sector or for your industry. This CIUS is then also made available on this portal. This means that your users can validate their messages against this profile. For example, the procedure could be as follows:

• Install the client software and select the wished invoice format
• Adjust the invoice format to suit your industry, your sector, your company, …
• Upload the industry standard profile of the selected invoice format into the portal and publish it as documentation for other users
• Provide standard industry profile for checking in the portal