The Annual Electronic Invoicing Forum, promoted by the Spanish Association of Business Financiers (ASSET), has established itself as a key point to analyze the current panorama and the upcoming challenges in the widespread adoption of electronic invoices in Spain.
During this event, sector experts met to share their knowledge and strategies, highlighting among them the participation of Diana Salazar, B2B Solutions Sales Manager of Generix, a global company specialized in business software solutions. In his speech, Salazar offered a detailed vision on how companies can move from planning to action in the process of digital transformation of their billing.
One of the central topics of the forum was the progress of the technical regulations associated with the Create and Grow Law, which is planned for the coming months. This regulation will serve as a guide to align electronic invoicing standards in Spain with those in Europe, within the framework of the ViDA project. As stipulated, companies with a turnover of more than 8 million euros will be the first to adapt, with a period of one year from the publication of the Royal Decree in the BOE. For other companies, the period will be two years to adjust to this new obligation.
During the debate on “Electronic invoicing and technological impact”, Diana Salazar shared a table with experts such as Javier Lafont, CTO of Invoway; David Sarmiento, responsible for Purchasing, Supply Chain and Operations at ILUNION; and Alberto Mezquita, head of Organization and Systems at Froneri. Together they explored how technological tools are facilitating the adoption of e-invoicing in large and small companies, as well as the benefits that digitalization brings to internal operations.
“Many companies have decided to park the e-invoicing implementation project until the standard is released. This in some cases may be a mistake, since, depending on the complexity of the company, it may take more or less time. There are many prior issues to take into account at the organizational level, such as analyzing the current situation and defining our specific needs.”says Diana Salazar.
The latest edition of the Annual Electronic Invoicing Forum organized by ASSET has been the setting for debate on the present and future of e-invoicing in Spain and Europe.
Key aspects to implement electronic invoicing
Salazar highlighted several recommendations to help companies in the process of adopting e-invoicing. The first step is to analyze the organization’s starting point and clearly define the objectives. For companies with complex or multinational structures, it is vital to understand how the regulations will affect each entity in the group and plan transformation times.
A critical aspect is the review of existing ERP systems, since they must be prepared to integrate with new electronic billing solutions, guaranteeing interoperability. Depending on the current state of these systems, companies may require major adjustments or need support from third-party vendors. Furthermore, digitalization will not only affect the financial area; It will also impact IT and other areas, so it is essential to evaluate whether it will be necessary to invest in technology or additional training.
Finally, choosing a digital solutions provider is crucial. Salazar highlighted the importance of verifying the supplier’s experience, its client portfolio and whether it meets the security standards necessary to protect the company’s sensitive data.
The push for digitalization in companies
Companies that have already implemented electronic invoicing have experienced significant improvements in terms of efficiency, thanks to the automation of processes that eliminate repetitive tasks and reduce errors. However, the challenges faced by small businesses in this transition were also addressed during the forum, especially in terms of the necessary investment.
In Spain, unlike other countries, the implementation of electronic invoices has been approached globally from the beginning, which means that both large and small companies must quickly find solutions to comply with the regulations.
According to Salazar, in addition to optimizing financial management, the digitization of billing allows access to valuable data that, combined with technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, can significantly improve efficiency. It also facilitates integration with other systems, such as electronic payments and document managers, helping to reduce the use of paper and improve security in the management of information.
Furthermore, e-invoicing contributes to reducing the carbon footprint of companies, improving transparency in the relationship with customers and suppliers, and collecting useful data for companies with international operations.