E-invoicing saves costs, speeds up payments, reduces errors and contributes to sustainability. And it is becoming mandatory step by step across Europe. Organisations that start now will not fall behind and already benefit today.
Why switch to e-invoicing?
Every paper or PDF invoice you replace with an e-invoice saves time, money and effort. Not as an abstract promise, but measurably: lower processing costs, faster payment and no more manual data entry.
The processing costs of a paper invoice are many times higher than those of an e-invoice. With manual processing, every invoice is printed, scanned, manually entered, checked and archived. With e-invoicing via Peppol, the invoice arrives in a structured format and is automatically processed in your accounting software. The savings apply to every step: no paper, no postage, no scanning, no manual data entry, no error correction.
For organisations with high volumes, the savings add up quickly. With hundreds of invoices per month, you structurally save on personnel and material costs. In addition, the costs of physical archiving disappear: e-invoices are stored digitally in accordance with the legal retention period.
E-invoices are demonstrably paid faster than paper or PDF invoices. The explanation is simple: an e-invoice enters the recipient's processing workflow directly, without delays from mail, scanning or manual data entry. The faster an invoice is processed, the faster it is approved and paid.
With automatic status messages via Peppol, you also know exactly where your invoice is: received, in progress, approved or cleared for payment. This reduces the number of phone calls and emails to debtors and gives you better insight into your cash flow.
E-invoicing via Peppol is fundamentally safer than invoicing by email or post. Every participant on the Peppol network is verified via a certified Access Point. Invoices are automatically checked against unique identifiers such as IBAN, VAT number and Chamber of Commerce number. Ghost invoices, CEO fraud and invoice manipulation are effectively blocked.
When invoicing by email, it is relatively easy to forge or intercept an invoice. The IBAN number can be altered, the sender can be spoofed. With Peppol, this is impossible: the entire chain is controlled and encrypted. eConnect adds End User Identification on top of that, verifying that the sender is actually authorised to invoice on behalf of the organisation.
Every invoice sent digitally instead of by post saves paper, ink, envelopes and transport. With large volumes, the environmental impact is substantial. In addition, the need for physical archiving disappears: no binders, no archive space, no annual destruction.
E-invoicing fits within the broader sustainability policy of organisations. It is a concrete, measurable step that can be implemented immediately and contributes to CO2 reduction targets.
In an increasing number of European countries, e-invoicing is becoming mandatory. The trend is clear: paper and PDF invoices are making way for structured e-invoices.
Belgium has made e-invoicing via Peppol mandatory for all B2B transactions as of 1 January 2026. Every company that invoices a Belgian company must do so via a structured e-invoice.
Germany is phasing in mandatory e-invoicing. From 2027, large companies must be able to receive and send e-invoices. From 2028, the mandate applies to all companies.
France starts in September 2026 with mandatory e-invoicing for large companies, followed by SMEs in September 2027. The Chorus Pro platform will become the central infrastructure.
Italy has had a full B2B mandate via the SdI platform since 2019. All invoices between Italian companies must be sent via SdI.
Spain is building the VeriFactu system. Poland is implementing the KSeF platform as a central invoice register.
At EU level, the ViDA directive makes e-invoicing mandatory for all cross-border B2B transactions as of 1 July 2030. This affects every organisation that invoices internationally.
The savings depend on your current processing workflow and invoice volume. The processing costs of a paper invoice are many times higher than those of an e-invoice. The difference applies to every step: no paper, no postage, no scanning, no manual data entry and no error correction.
With a hundred invoices per month, the switch to e-invoicing already delivers a structural saving. With larger volumes, the effect is even stronger, as the personnel required for manual processing also decreases. In addition, you save on physical archiving, stamps and envelopes. An exact calculation depends on your organisation, but during an introductory meeting with eConnect, we can make an estimate based on your specific situation.
In the Netherlands, e-invoicing is already mandatory for suppliers to the central government (B2G). A broader B2B mandate does not yet exist, but is expected in line with the European ViDA directive. That directive makes e-invoicing mandatory for all cross-border B2B transactions in the EU as of 1 July 2030.
The direction is clear when you look at the neighbouring countries. Belgium introduced a full B2B mandate as of 1 January 2026. Germany follows in phases from 2027. It is not a question of whether e-invoicing will become mandatory in the Netherlands, but when. Organisations that start now build experience and have their processes in order when the mandate arrives. Via eConnect, you can start today, free via the invoice portal or from your own accounting software.
E-invoicing via Peppol is significantly more secure than invoicing by email or post. Every participant on the Peppol network is verified via a certified Access Point. Invoices are automatically checked against unique identifiers such as IBAN, VAT number and Chamber of Commerce number. Ghost invoices, CEO fraud and invoice manipulation are effectively blocked.
With email, it is relatively easy to intercept an invoice or alter the IBAN number. With Peppol, all communication runs encrypted via certified Access Points. eConnect adds End User Identification on top: an additional verification that checks whether the sender is actually authorised to invoice on behalf of the organisation. The combination of network verification, document validation and sender checks makes e-invoicing via Peppol the most secure invoicing method available.
The fastest way to start is via the free invoice portal from eConnect. You create an account online, verify your organisation via iDEAL (or Wero) and can send your first e-invoice within fifteen minutes. There are no costs for creating the account.
Do you want to send invoices from your own accounting software? Then eConnect offers integrations with more than 100 software packages. Set up once and your invoices go automatically via Peppol. For software vendors who want to integrate e-invoicing into their own product, there is the REST API. In any case: eConnect automatically selects the best route for your invoice (Peppol if the recipient is registered, email as a fallback), so you always reach everyone.
Start free via the invoice portal · View all software integrations
Yes, directly and measurably. Every invoice sent digitally instead of by post saves paper, ink, envelopes and transport. With larger volumes, the environmental impact is substantial. In addition, the need for physical archiving disappears: no binders, no archive space, no annual destruction of paper archives.
E-invoicing fits within the broader sustainability policy of organisations. It is a concrete, measurable step that can be implemented without major investment. Many organisations include e-invoicing in their CSR reporting as evidence of process greening. Via eConnect, you can start for free and immediately contribute to a lower ecological footprint.
Ready to get started with e-invoicing?
Start free via the invoice portal
Schedule a meeting
See also: E-invoicing · Invoice portal · International invoicing