Less than half of German companies are currently able to receive e-invoices—despite the requirement taking effect in 2025. Insiders recommends flexible solutions that integrate standards and enable comprehensive digital invoice management.
In light of a recent study by the digital association Bitkom—which found that, despite the approaching deadline, progress toward implementing the e-invoicing requirement has been rather sluggish so far—Insiders emphasizes —the need for a holistic, intelligent solution in invoice management, which, in addition to receiving and sending invoices, opens up new opportunities for automation and verification and also addresses the issue of the coexistence of various formats and channels.
The implementation of the mandatory receipt of e-invoices in business transactions, effective January 1, 2025, is just around the corner. Nevertheless, less than half—45 percent—of German companies are currently able to receive e-invoices. This is the result of a recent survey by the digital association Bitkom. Insiders sees this as an urgent need for action and highlights the critical importance of flexible and future-proof solutions.
The representative Bitkom study, which surveyed 1,103 companies in Germany with 20 or more employees, shows that many companies are struggling with the multitude of standards and delivery methods when receiving e-invoices. Email remains the primary channel for invoices—according to the study, virtually all companies currently send invoices via email, for example as PDF files—and more than half still rely on regular mail. Larger companies are increasingly turning to standardized processes such as Peppol. To meet these requirements, solutions are needed that cover all common standards and formats while also being able to adapt flexibly to varying business needs.
Furthermore, e-invoicing goes far beyond simply receiving and sending invoices. Key benefits include the automated verification of invoice content—both in form and substance—the detection of anomalies, background processing when the order reference is correct, integration into approval processes, and automatic account assignment. Comprehensive invoice management, such as the 360-degree approach pursued by Insiders, is becoming a decisive competitive advantage for companies.
The study also underscores that a hybrid reality consisting of e-invoices, traditional PDF invoices, and paper documents will persist for years to come. Companies therefore need solutions that enable consistent processing across all channels and formats while also meeting the legal requirements of mandatory e-invoicing.
Tobias Widmann, an e-invoicing expert at Insiders, emphasizes: “The results of the Bitkom study show that companies urgently need to prepare for the e-invoicing mandate. It’s not enough to simply consider individual formats or channels. A modern invoice management solution must support standards such as Peppol or ZUGFeRD as well as hybrid scenarios involving PDF or paper documents. This is the only way to truly automate processes and achieve efficiency gains.”
Insiders helps companies overcome these challenges. With intelligent e-invoicing solutions that enable both seamless integration into existing IT systems and the automation of end--to-end processes, the company provides its customers with the foundation for efficient and legally compliant invoice management.
