SAP-Integrated Solutions: Why It’s Time for Companies to Switch Now
Electronic invoicing (e-invoicing) has long since become more than a purely regulatory obligation. With the introduction of mandatory e-invoicing in the B2B sector and European initiatives around real-time reporting to tax authorities, it is becoming a central building block of a future-proof finance and tax architecture.
This confronts companies with a strategic question:
How can e-invoicing be implemented not only in a legally compliant way, but also efficiently, sustainably, and with a view to the future?
Mandatory E-Invoicing: An Obligation Today, a Foundation for Tomorrow
Since January 2025, companies in Germany have been required to be able to receive electronic invoices. Transitional arrangements for issuing e-invoices apply until 2027/2028. However, regulatory developments do not stop there. With initiatives such as “VAT in the Digital Age (ViDA)”, the EU is preparing the next step:
👉 transaction-based, near real-time reporting of invoice data to tax authorities..
E-invoicing is therefore not just a new format – it is becoming a key data source for future tax reporting obligations.
The Challenge for Companies: More Than a Change of Format
Many companies initially focus on formally complying with the e-invoicing requirement. In practice, however, it quickly becomes clear that:
- Multiple formats (XRechnung, ZUGFeRD, EDI) must be processed in parallel
- Media disruptions and isolated solutions increase complexity and effort
- Data redundancies arise from maintaining multiple systems
- Future real-time reporting obligations require consistent and valid data
- Especially in SAP environments, it is therefore crucial to think of e-invoicing end-to-end and not introduce it as an isolated add-on solution.
The inPuncto Approach: End-to-End E-Invoicing in SAP
inPuncto offers a fully SAP-integrated e-invoicing solution that covers the entire invoicing process – from inbound to outbound.
Inbound E-Invoicing
- Central processing of all incoming invoices (OCR/ICR + XML)
- Support for XRechnung, ZUGFeRD, EDI (in accordance with CEN EN 16931)
- Automatic format and content validation (EN 16931)
- Transparent workflows and approval processes directly in SAP
Outbound E-Invoicing via Partner
- SAP-integrated generation of e-invoices from SD and FI documents
- Support for different formats depending on the business partner
- Central outbound invoice cockpit for maximum transparency
A Central Platform Instead of Data Redundancies
A key advantage of deep SAP integration is the reduction of data redundancies. All relevant invoice data is:
- captured once
- processed centrally
- validated consistently
- archived in an audit-proof manner
This creates a single source of truth for invoice and tax data – a decisive prerequisite for future reporting obligations and real-time reporting.
International and Future-Proof
E-invoicing is an international topic. Many countries already rely on central platforms or real-time reporting systems.
For this purpose, inPuncto works with a partner who:
- is an official PEPPOL Access Point
- can implement connections to national e-invoicing platforms
As a result, the solution is not only designed for the German market, but is also scalable to meet international requirements.
Economic Value: Efficiency, Transparency, and ROI
In addition to regulatory security, a SAP-integrated e-invoicing solution offers measurable economic benefits:
- Reduction of manual processing steps
- Shorter processing and approval cycles
- Higher data quality
- Transparent invoicing processes
In practice, depending on the country and cost structure, process cost savings of more than €10 per invoice can be achieved – a significant lever for rapid ROI.
Conclusion: Use E-Invoicing as a Strategic Lever
Mandatory e-invoicing marks the entry into a new phase of digitization in accounting.
Companies that now rely on SAP-integrated, end-to-end solutions not only ensure legal compliance, but also deliberately prepare for upcoming requirements such as real-time reporting and international platform models.
inPuncto supports companies in not only implementing e-invoicing – but using it strategically.
You can find more information on deadlines and practical tips also in our article Electronic Invoicing in B2B.