eInvoicing & Integration: Why many companies need to act now

After all, eInvoicing is much more than just the introduction of a new file format. For many companies, the changeover initially means additional work: processes have to be adapted, systems integrated and regulatory requirements implemented. At the same time, however, eInvoicing opens up enormous potential for automation and increased efficiency.

Manual activities such as:

• typing invoice data

• error-prone OCR or data extraction processes

• manual approvals

• paper-based processes

can be significantly reduced or fully automated. This leads to

• faster throughput times

• better data quality

• fewer errors

• greater transparency

• more efficient financial processes

This makes eInvoicing not only a compliance issue, but increasingly a lever for modern process automation.

eInvoicing is not just a document issue, but also a process issue

At first glance, eInvoicing looks like a mere conversion of formats and interfaces. In practice, however, this view falls short. This is because every invoice is part of an end-to-end process that goes far beyond the document:

• Purchase order in purchasing

• Order confirmation by the supplier

• Delivery of goods or services

• Invoicing and processing

• Payment processing in Finance

As soon as eInvoicing is introduced, it becomes clear how closely these steps are linked . Companies that only digitize the invoice format are therefore only optimizing a small section. The real leverage only comes from end-to-end process integration.

A central location for accounting, approvals and process control is becoming increasingly important, especially for the efficient processing of electronic invoices . A truly efficient digital process can only be created if invoices can be processed, checked and approved in a structured and traceable manner.

In the SAP environment in particular, it is clear that integrations have grown organically over the years. Different projects, requirements and systems have led to heterogeneous architectures that often function stably on a day-to-day basis, but are structurally complex.

Typical challenges here are

• Many selective interfaces between systems
• Individual adjustments per business partner
• Limited transparency of end-to-end processes
• High effort for regulatory changes

What has worked well for a long time suddenly becomes a bottleneck under new requirements such as eInvoicing.

What's more, each country has its own regulatory requirements, formats and deadlines. Companies with international business relationships are therefore quickly faced with the challenge of having to manage different national requirements in parallel .

This is precisely why a centralized approach is becoming increasingly important:

• standardized integration platforms
• centralized control of eInvoicing processes
• standardized data flows
• a central point of contact for international requirements

As a result, regulatory changes can be implemented much more efficiently and international rollouts can be scaled better.

The most important dates regarding the eInvoicing obligation and who they affect*

The Growth Opportunities Act will gradually introduce mandatory eInvoicing in Germany. The B2B sector between domestic companies is particularly relevant. For many companies, this means that now is the right time to prepare existing processes and system landscapes for future requirements.

The most important dates at a glance:

• Until the end of 2026: Transition phase: paper invoices and PDFs are still permitted.
• From January 1, 2027: Companies with more than €800,000 turnover in the previous year must issue electronic invoices.
• From January 1, 2028: Mandatory electronic invoicing applies in principle to all B2B companies in Germany.

Companies with established ERP and integration landscapes are particularly affected, as eInvoicing not only affects new formats such as XRechnung or ZUGFeRD, but also processes, data exchange and system integration along the entire value chain.

*Sources:
Federal Ministry of Finance - Questions and answers on the introduction of mandatory (obligatory) e-invoicing on January 1, 2025
E-invoicing (B2B) since 2025 - IHK Darmstadt
Electronic invoicing becomes mandatory: E-invoicing at a glance | Steuern | Haufe
https://sapeinvoice.com/de/germany-b2b-e-invoicing-mandate/

International developments: eInvoicing is becoming the standard across Europe

The introduction of eInvoicing obligations is no longer limited to individual countries. Many European countries are currently pushing ahead with national mandates for electronic invoices - some of which are already mandatory, while others have concrete rollout plans until 2028.

Some of the most important developments:

• France: introduction of mandatory B2B eInvoicing regulations from September 1, 2026 for large and medium-sized companies
• Belgium: Mandatory eInvoicing for domestic B2B transactions from January 1, 2026 via Peppol-based standards
• Poland: Introduction of the national KSeF system from 2026 for structured electronic invoices
• Italy: eInvoicing has been mandatory for B2B transactions since 2019 and is now considered one of the most advanced models in Europe
• Spain: Also with planned gradual introduction of mandatory B2B eInvoicing requirements from 2027

For internationally active companies, this means that eInvoicing is increasingly becoming a cross-border integration and compliance issue. Those who rely on standardized and scalable processes at an early stage can implement regulatory requirements much more efficiently. This can be achieved, for example, through a holistic and cross-process EDI, i.e. Electronic Data Exchange, strategy.

*Sources:
EU E-Invoicing Hub - B2B E-Invoicing Compliance Guide
EU E-Invoicing Requirements 2026 - Complete Country-by-Country Guide | Invoice Navigator
EU E-Invoicing Mandate Timeline 2024-2030 - Every Country Deadline | Invoice Navigator

Rethinking integration: EDI, eInvoicing and APIs are growing together

Many companies still view EDI, eInvoicing and APIs as separate topics. In practice, however, these worlds are increasingly merging. Traditional EDI remains a central component of established B2B processes and many supply chains. At the same time, regulatory requirements are creating more and more national eInvoicing specifications, while API-based integration models are enabling additional flexibility and new digital services .

The real challenge therefore no longer lies in the choice of a single technology, but in the ability to bring together different integration approaches within a central and scalable architecture.

This is particularly relevant in the SAP environment. In many companies, SAP acts as the central data and process hub for finance, procurement and supply chain. As soon as external partners, platforms or authorities are integrated, the quality of the integration directly determines efficiency, transparency and process stability.

This is why the integration approach itself is currently changing : away from individual point-to-point interfaces and towards central integration platforms with standardized processes and central control. Companies benefit from this:

• faster connection of new partners
• better scalability for international requirements
• greater transparency over data flows
• Lower maintenance costs
• more efficient implementation of regulatory requirements

Integration is therefore no longer seen as a single IT project, but as the strategic basis for modern business processes.

Implement all regulations using just one tool.
Choose EDI Zone.

With SAP eInvoicing solutions, you can create invoices directly from SAP documents. Invoices are sent electronically via standards such as ZUGFeRD or XRechnung – automatically, error-free and audit-proof. Many solutions promise automated document exchange. Ours goes one step further: fully integrated into SAP, with the familiar Fiori look and feel, and therefore usable directly within the ERP system.

With our SAP eInvoicing solutions, you can create and send invoices directly from your SAP documents – electronically, automatically and audit-proof via standards such as ZUGFeRD or XRechnung. Everything runs seamlessly within your SAP system, with the familiar Fiori look and feel and without the need for additional tools or system breaks. At the same time, you eliminate manual detours and error-prone data exchange. Our integrated SAP EDI solution ensures secure, end-to-end data transfer via the EDI Zone – and makes your processes noticeably faster, more transparent and more stable.

Learn more

Typical use cases in practice

In reality, the benefits of a modern integration architecture are very tangible. We see this particularly often:

• Automated processing of eInvoicing processes

• EDI-based integration of suppliers and customers

• Real-time exchange of business data along the supply chain

• End-to-end transparency across order-to-cash and procure-to-pay processes

These use cases show: Integration is not a technical side issue, but a direct efficiency and control lever.

Why many eInvoicing projects fail

Despite clear regulatory requirements, many projects are not successful. The reason rarely lies in the technology, but in the approach. Typical causes are

• Focus on individual requirements instead of overall architecture

• Too many individual interface solutions

• Lack of standardization

• No long-term integration strategy

The result is systems that work in the short term but remain difficult to scale in the long term.

Conclusion: eInvoicing is the trigger, not the goal

eInvoicing is often seen as a mandatory project. However, it is actually a trigger for a much larger development: the redesign of integration architectures. Companies that approach this step correctly use eInvoicing not only to meet compliance requirements, but also as a gateway to a modern, scalable and standardized integration landscape. The decisive difference lies not in the technology, but in the perspective:

• eInvoicing is not an end point

• but the starting point for better integration