May 2008

Electronic Invoicing as a ‘keystone’ in the collaborationbetween companies, banks and PAReport 2008 Observatoryon Electronic Invoicing and Demateralisation

In collaboration with

www.osservatori.netELECTRONIC INVOICING AS A ‘KEYSTONE’ IN THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN COMPANIES, BANKS AND PA 1

pages

Index

Introduction by Umberto Bertelè and Andrea Rangone 7

Executive Summary by Alessandro Perego 9

1. Electronic invoicing: the framework of reference 13The various meanings of electronic invoicing � 13The “value” of electronic invoicing � 15The adoption � 17The barriers � 19The priorities � 21

2. Electronic invoicing models 23The adoption paradigms � 23The service fruition modes � 28The supply market � 32

3. Adoption process 35The diffusion of electronic invoicing models � 36The size of investments � 39The project sponsorship � 40The operational management of projects � 42The benefits � 42The critical operational features � 43The barriers � 44

4. Assessment of profitability 63The meta-model � 63The � analysis of benefits 66The analysis of profitability � 70Brief conclusions � 82

5. Evolution of the legislative framework 83A summary of the legislative framework � 83The open issues � 86The electronic invoicing to public sector authorities � 90

Note on methodology 93

Workgroup 99

School of Management 101The School of Management of Politecnico di Milano � 101ICT & Management � Observatories 101

Supporters of Research 103

Figure 1.1 14Figure 1.2 15Figure 1.3 16

Figure 1.4 17

Figure 1.5 18Figure 1.6 21Figure 1.7 22

Figure 2.1 23Figure 2.2 25Figure 2.3 26

Figure 2.4 28Figure 2.5 30Figure 2.6 31

Figure 2.7 31

Figure 2.8 32Figure 2.9 33

Figure 3.1 35Figure 3.2 36Figure 3.3 37Figure 3.4 38Figure 3.5 38Figure 3.6 39Figure 3.7 40Figure 3.8 41Figure 3.9 41Figure 3.10 42Figure 3.11 43Figure 3.12 44Figure 3.13 45

Figure 4.1 66Figure 4.2 67Figure 4.3 68Figure 4.4 69

Figure 4.5 69

Figure 4.6 69Figure 4.7 70Figure 4.8 70

www.osservatori.netELECTRONIC INVOICING AS A ‘KEYSTONE’ IN THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN COMPANIES, BANKS AND PA 3

pages

Index of Figures

The electronic invoicing as a ‘keystone’ in trade process integrationThe value tree in electronic invoicing projectsThe benefits of total integration and dematerialisation of the trade process in different sectors (measured in €/cycle)The benefits of electronic invoicing in function of the adoption model (measured in €/cycle) – Consumer goods sector Some data on the level of adoption in ItalyThe barriers to adoption and the priorities for actionThe payback time (years) of electronic invoicing projects

The main adoption paradigmsThe adoption paradigms: coverage of the trade processThe adoption paradigms: the coverage of the trade process - integration with partners matrixThe service fruition modeThe service fruition modes: electronic invoicing paradigmsThe service fruition modes: integration and dematerialisation of the trade process paradigmsThe service fruition modes: total integration and dematerialisation of the trade process paradigmsThe various supply worldsThe services offered by the main classes of player

The characteristics of the user company panelThe diffusion of the adoption paradigmsThe diffusion of the service fruition modesThe “service fruition modes - paradigms” matrix (parameter: project progress)The “service fruition modes - paradigms” matrix (parameter: company size)The amount of the investmentThe “paradigms - amount of the investment” matrixThe project promoter functionThe “paradigms - project sponsorship” matrixThe operational management of projectsThe benefits obtainedSome critical issues reported by user companiesThe adoption barriers

The limits of the analysisThe main investment categories and current costsThe structure of the profitability assessment modelThe benefits of total integration and dematerialisation. Percentage reduction of the cycle costThe benefits of total integration and dematerialisation. Absolute reduction of the cycle costThe determinants of the absolute cycle cost and the positioning of the sectorsThe benefits in function of the level of integration in the consumer goods sectorThe benefits of total integration and dematerialisation. Break-down between ideal cycle cost and non-conformity cost

Figure 4.9 71

Figure 4.10 71

Figure 4.11 73Figure 4.12 73Figure 4.13 73Figure 4.14 74

Figure 4.15 75Figure 4.16 76Figure 4.17 76Figure 4.18 77

Figure 4.19 78Figure 4.20 79Figure 4.21 80Figure 4.22 80

Figure 4.23 81

Figure 4.24 82Figure 4.25 82Figure 4.26 83Figure 4.27 83

Figure 5.1 91Figure 5.2 91

www.osservatori.netELECTRONIC INVOICING AS A ‘KEYSTONE’ IN THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN COMPANIES, BANKS AND PA4

The benefits in function of the level of integration in the consumer goods sector. Break-down between ideal cycle cost and non-conformity costThe benefits of total integration and dematerialisation. Break-down between customer and supplierThe profitability analysis: the main variablesThe company parameters used for the profitability analysisThe sensitivity scenariosAn example application of the models: medium size company and in house managementThe analysis of payback time: medium sensitivity scenarioThe analysis of payback time: pessimistic sensitivity scenarioThe payback time in function of the level of integrationThe payback time in function of the level of integration: the customer/supplier viewThe analysis of the NPV/cycle: medium sensitivity scenarioThe NPV in function of the level of integrationSome examples of progressive adoptionThe effect of the level of financial activity on payback time: in house managementThe effect of the level of financial activity on payback time: outsourced managementThe effect of company size on NPV in the various service fruition modesThe convenience domain of the service fruition modesThe four contexts examinedThe profitability of total integration and dematerialisation projects in the four contexts examined

The legislative framework regarding electronic invoicing in the EUThe legislative framework regarding electronic invoicing outside the EU