E-invoice: The future of invoicing for German companies
From 1 January 2025, electronic invoicing – known as ‘e-invoicing’ – will be a significant innovation for many companies in Germany. This changeover offers opportunities, but also harbours some challenges. Companies must be prepared for the fact that paper-based invoices will increasingly be replaced by digital formats that must fulfil both legal and technical requirements.
But don’t worry – with Pranke as your partner, you are prepared.
What is an e-invoice and why is it mandatory?
An e-invoice is a digital invoice that is created in structured formats such as ZUGFeRD or XRechnung. These formats make it possible to read, process and archive invoices directly in electronic systems without the need for manual input. This not only saves time and reduces sources of error, but also simplifies collaboration with authorities and business partners.
The Federal Ministry of Finance (BMF) has confirmed the admissibility of the ZUGFeRD and XRechnung formats as part of the Growth Opportunities Act, which shows that Germany is clearly orientating itself towards the digital future of invoicing.
Pranke: Ready for the new requirements from 1 January 2025
From 1 January 2025, it will be mandatory to be able to receive and process incoming e-invoices, especially in ZUGFeRD and XRechnung format, in Germany. Pranke provides a service for this (PRANKE® Elektronische Rechnung (PER)) that allows you to automatically receive incoming invoice data and integrate it into your existing processes.
Flexibility in the choice of invoice format
Pranke supports you in choosing the right invoice format and the right communication channels. Whether ZUGFeRD, XRechnung or EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) – we ensure that your invoices are successfully processed and provided to you in the correct form – in accordance with the current regulatory requirements in Germany. Especially in the B2G (Business-to-Government) sector, XRechnung is often required in order to comply with official regulations.
The choice of format and version is usually agreed individually with the business partner. This means that you and your business partner decide together which format is most suitable.
Communication on all channels - secure and reliable
Regardless of whether you network with your trading partners via eGate (VAN), PEPPOL or a direct connection – Pranke offers you a flexible solution.
Through our partner, a certified provider with its own PEPPOL access point, we enable you to smoothly transmit and receive your e-invoices in the PEPPOL network.
User-friendliness: For people and machines
Electronic invoices are not only optimised for machine processing. Pranke provides you with a PDF view copy that is also humar-readable and can be easily integrated into existing approval processes. This gives you full control and an overview of your invoices at all times.
Automatic invoice verification
Our system offers the option of automatically checking your invoices for completeness. This reduces errors, saves time and gives you the certainty that all requirements have been met.
Conclusion: Safely into the future of e-invoicing with Pranke
The deadline of 1 January 2025 is just a few days away, and with Pranke as your partner, you can rely on a switch to e-invoicing. Get ready for the future of electronic invoice receipt – with Pranke, your partner for electronic communication.
We would be happy to support you on your way to digital invoice processing – get in touch at sales@pranke.com and we’ll talk about the topic together!
Further information on the PRANKE® Elektronische Rechnung can be found here.
